PDP crisis: Benue PDP parents move to reconcile Ortom and Ayu

In order to resolve the misunderstanding between Governor Samuel Ortom and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, their Tiv relatives invited the two men to a roundtable.

The decision to broker peace between the two PDP political leaders follows the ongoing war of words between the governor and the national president's supporters, which Tiv leaders have viewed with dismay.

Thus, worried about the cold war between the two illustrious sons of the state, the actors of the PDP under the aegis of the "Jembagh PDP Elders' Forum" yesterday invited the governor to a meeting in Gboko.

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Dr Ayu hails from the Jembagh geopolitical axis of Benue State, which includes the local government areas of Buruku, Gboko and Tarka. The national president of the PDP is precisely from the Gboko local government council.

In a statement shortly after the meeting, Governor Ortom's Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nathaniel Ikyur, said the meeting was being held at the instigation of the Jembagh PDP Elders Forum, which was seeking clarification on the cold war between the two politicians. .

He disclosed that this action was taken following the insistence of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that the National President resign. Ikyur said, "Giving details of what has snowballed into the current crises, Governor Ortom has dispelled insinuations that he is shooting a son of Jembagh.

“On the contrary, he explained how he rallied support for the election of Senator Ayu against all odds. The governor stressed that he would never succumb to blackmail and would not remain silent in the face of the injustice perpetrated by the PDP under the leadership of Senator Ayu. »

The Chief Press Secretary further disclosed how Ortom told Jembagh PDP elders that Senator Ayu had mounted a smear and blackmail campaign against his person and office, after meeting with members of the PDP Board of Directors (BOT).

It may be recalled that the Governor's invitation by the Jembagh PDP Elders Forum came two days after Ortom called on the PDP National Chairman to resign or seek forgiveness.

After an emergency executive council meeting at Government House, Makurdi, last Friday, Ortom, who is one of the G5 PDP governors angry with the party, said Ayu had pledged to resign if a northerner became the party's presidential candidate. . Ortom therefore urged his relative to honor his words and relinquish the presidency "if he was a man of integrity or else apologize and ask for forgiveness".

Ikyur pointed out that during the meeting, Governor Ortom reiterated his previous position. He said the governor noted that following the bickering at the post-PDP presidential convention, he advised Senator Ayu to reach out to aggrieved party leaders and plead for their understanding in the face of calls for his resignation. .

“Ortom lamented that instead of following his advice, Senator Ayu chose the dastardly path of disuniting the party through his actions and statements,” Ikyur revealed.

The Guardian understands that Governor Ortom, who is running for the Senate, also pointed the finger at some of Ayu's relatives, whom he accused of threatening to scuttle his senatorial ambition in revenge for his position to Dr. Ayu.

Ortom, who however remained adamant, reportedly told Ayu's relatives that already some pseudo-groups claiming to speak on behalf of Jembagh's political bloc were fueling public blackmail against him, claiming he was working against the interest of Ayu.

A source at the meeting revealed that Ortom argued that since the power is God-given, "no one should blackmail me, because of my senatorial ambition. No one should think he's going to bully me , because of the senatorial elections."

"If God orders me to be elected as a Senator for the North West Benue Senatorial Area, no amount of blackmail or intimidation could stop me from winning. Since I started running for the Senate elections of Benue Benue North West, I became a subject of intimidation and blackmail by some Jembagh actors, following the internal crisis that shook the party with Ayu as helmsman.

"The national president failed to maintain neutrality in handling affairs leading up to the PDP's national convention, which produced Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate. Ayu himself has pledged to step down if a northern presidential candidate was emerging during the northern caucus meeting at the Bauchi State Pavilion.

"I wonder why Senator Ayu is now reneging on his promise, which he voluntarily made in front of all the northern party leaders," Ortom reportedly said.

After telling his version of the crisis, Governor Ortom reportedly urged Jembagh stakeholders to invite himself and Senator Ayu to a meeting instead of attending them separately, so they could both present their positions on the issue.