Ayu blackmailing me for asking him to step down for a Southerner
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Benue Governor Samuel Ortom has alleged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu is smearing and blackmailing him instead of heeding calls for him to resign in order to salvage the party from implosion.
Ortom made the allegation at the weekend when he met with PDP members of Ayu’s kinsmen known as Jemgbagh PDP Elders Forum, comprising leaders from Gboko, Tarka, and Buruku Council Areas.
A statement issued in Makurdi by Ortom’s Chief Press Secretary Nathaniel Ikyur said the meeting was at the instance of the elders who sought to get clarification on the cold war between Ortom and Ayu.
The meeting was held following the demand by PDP G5 Governors, among them Ortom, for Ayu to resign. Ortom separately repeated the demand at the weekend.
He dispelled at the meeting reports that he was pulling down Ayu, stressing he actually rallied support for his election as PDP Chairman against all odds.
He alleged he is being intimidated and blackmailed over his senatorial ambition because of his stance for justice and fairness and call on Ayu – who is from the same senatorial zone with him – to resign.
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Ortom’s senatorial ambition
Ortom said because he is contesting for the Benue North-West Senatorial District, he has become a subject of attack by some Jemgbagh stakeholders as a result of the crisis in the party, with Ayu as helmsman, according to reporting by Vanguard.
“Power is given by God and no one should blackmail me because of my senatorial ambition. Nobody should think he will intimidate me because of the Senate election,” he insisted.
“If God ordains me to be elected Senator for the Benue North-West Senatorial zone, no amount of blackmail or intimidation can prevent me from winning.”
He said after the PDP national convention which produced internal wranglings, he advised Ayu to reach out to aggrieved leaders of the party and plead for their understanding over calls for his resignation.
“But rather than take my counsel, he chose to take the path of disuniting the party by his actions and utterances.”
Ortom insisted Ayu did not maintain neutrality in handling affairs leading to the convention, which produced Atiku Abubakar as PDP presidential candidate.
“Ayu himself committed to resigning should a Northern presidential candidate emerge at the Northern caucus of the party at the Bauchi State lodge.”
He wondered why Ayu reneged on his promise which he voluntarily made before all the Northern leaders of the party.
Ortom told the Jemgbagh people to invite Ayu and himself to a meeting so they could both present their positions on the matter, saying despite the betrayal, intimidation and blackmail, he would continue to stand for justice for his people.
Jemgbagh PDP Elders Forum Chairman Sam Tsumba promised the Forum would invite Ortom and Ayu to resolve the conflict.