Kinsmen of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu have berated Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over calls for Ayu’s resignation.
Ayu’s kinsmen acting under the aegis of the Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja chapter, accused governor Ortom of conniving with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, in an attempt to pull Ayu down.
This allegation was contained in a communique signed by Terver Felix Abor and Thomas Iangen, Chairman and Secretary of the association respectively.
The communique was issued, in Abuja, on Sunday.
According to the duo, the sons and daughters of Tarkaa, Gboko, and Buruku Local Government Areas of Benue State, met in Abuja on the 23rd of September 2022 and deliberated on “the issue of the Executive Governor of Benue State and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who is a Prominent Son of Jemgbagh.”
Iangen said, “The meeting noted with concern the series of attacks carried out by Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom with his counterpart, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on the Prominent Son of Jemgbagh, a one time Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, former Minister of Interior, *Dr. Iyorchia Ayu* , the current Chairman of *the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We the leadership of Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja chapter, as a body have condemned this act and call on those who take pleasure in politics of pull him down, with their ill motive, selfish interest without the interest of Benue State at heart should desist from such act.“
The communique read in part, “After extensive deliberations, the meeting came to the following conclusions:
“That Jemgbagh development association Abuja chapter cannot in all fairness to our consciences and our “true support brotherhood system within our constituencies, we cannot watch our stakeholder be dragged to the mud because of one’s selfish interest.
“That Benue State is a peace-loving and a constitutional democracy and *NOT* a
theocracy or autocracy.
“That those calling for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman should seek proper redress in the competent court of law and stop demeaning attacks on our prominent son.
“ The selection of *PDP* Nation Chairman displayed sensitivity to the complexity of and fairness in the modern democracy of Nigeria and the entire Tiv Nation.
“It is also a betrayal of the advocates of unity and peaceful co-existence with our other brothers, namely; Sankera, Kwnde, MINDA, and Jechira.”
Members of the association noted that Governor Ortom would be putting the fortunes of the PDP in general and his Senatorial ambition in particular, at risk should the move to remove Ayu succeed.
They said, “If the MINDA said our Son is not fit as a Chairman of PDP what is the good for the health of our State in 2023 if we may ask?
“That the removal of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman would undermine the electoral fortunes of the PDP and its candidates across the States and the constituencies where *PDP* enjoy a numerical advantage.
“That considering the fact that Dr Iyorchia Ayu, the chairman of PDP, former President of Senate, Former Minister of Interior, will have greater advantage to deliver *PDP* in Benue state.
“The Jemgbagh development association Abuja chapter is a socio-cultural organization and dose does not involve politics.
“This communique is to guarantee equal opportunity for all mutual and peaceful co-existence*, respect and without social Injustice.
“We are disheartened that The Governor who wants to be a Senator for *Zone B* of the state Comprising of Jemgbagh and MINDA will involve himself in destroying Jemgbagh Son.“
The association said at this moment of national peril, what should be paramount in Benue State is unity because, without it, no political party can be built.
