…Accuses Alia of witch-hunting, disregard for court judgment
By Juliet Umeh
Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 while backing Michael Aondoakaa for governor of Benue State.
Ortom, who made the declaration during an interview on Arise Television, also confirmed his continued political relationship with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, saying he and his political associates in Benue were working for Tinubu’s victory in 2027.
“I want to tell you that Wike is my friend. We’re together, we talk together, and we work together. We discuss, we argue and agree on certain principles,” Ortom said.
According to him, his support for Tinubu followed the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, noting that he had previously supported Obi.
“You will recall, in 2023, when Wike was appointed minister, I was there at the reception, and I made a statement, and I have no regret making that statement, that in 2027 some of us will support Tinubu to win.
“In 2023, I supported Obi. But when Nigeria spoke, and President Tinubu was president, I said, Look, what is happening? If you can’t beat them, you join them. And we did.”
He added, “I want to assure you that I remain committed to our national leader, Minister Wike, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory, that I, Samuel Ortom, and my people here in Benue State, as far as we’re concerned, are working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
At the state level, he said, “I am backing Michael Aondoakaa as my preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election. I am backing all my candidates, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly. And I am also backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President,” he said.
The former governor, however, launched a fresh attack on the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia, accusing it of witch-hunting political opponents and disregarding the rule of law.
Ortom said democracy was anchored on the rule of law, alleging that the Alia administration had instead resorted to “witch-hunting” and attempts to run opponents down.
“You will recall that democracy is anchored on the rule of law. And that is what guides what democracy is. What we are witnessing in the last three years and some months is that here is a government that does not believe in the rule of law but believes in witch-hunting, believes in running opponents down,” he alleged.
Ortom cited the seizure of 23 vehicles allocated to him by the state government after he left office, saying, “I went to court, and we defeated the government. And they were asked to pay me five million in addition to returning the 23 vehicles they took away from me, which were legitimately given to me by the government,” he said.
He alleged that the vehicles had yet to be returned despite the judgment.
“As I talk to you, that is what I am saying. Our governor does not believe in the rule of law and due process. Up to today, it’s been about a year now; those vehicles have not been given to me,” Ortom said.
He also accused Alia of shutting out former leaders and stakeholders from the affairs of the state.
“Since I left Government House in 2023, I have never had the opportunity to meet with my governor and offer whatever it is, my advice. It has not been done,” he said.
Ortom further alleged that Alia had failed to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to address the security challenges confronting Benue.
He said President Tinubu had advised the governor to bring former governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders together to seek a lasting solution to the killings in the state.
“As I talk to you today, our governor has refused to summon that meeting,” Ortom alleged.
“The local government autonomy that we were told has been granted – there is nothing like that in Benue State,” he alleged.
Ortom maintained that despite his political differences with Alia, he had accepted the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the governor’s election.
“Once a decision is taken by the Supreme Court, that is final. You can’t go any other place now,” he said.
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