Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has been advised by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to meet with and persuade his rivals, including Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and others, over the challenges plaguing the country and the need for a consensus.
Ortom made this call on Thursday, July 21, 2022 during an interview on Arise TV.
“If God decides that it is him (Obi), nobody can stop him. If God decides that it is somebody else, nobody can also stop him. So, this is a very welcome development,” Ortom said.
“…I believe even other presidential candidates of the various political parties; in the PDP, in the APC and NNPP. I believe he should be able to reach out to them to sit down with them, analyse the Nigerian situation; ee if he can convince them to even step down for him because there is provision if they do that. That can work.
“Let us be seen as putting Nigeria first. So far, I commend his efforts.”
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Also, Ortom promised that he will not be leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In addition, the Governor revealed that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is making moves to “pacify” Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State.
Following his emergence as PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.
The former Vice President had rejected the recommendations of a committee set up on the selection of his running mate.
The 16-man committee had recommended Wike, who came second during the party’s primary election.
Governor Ortom had revealed that Wike is not happy that Atiku and the PDP, thus prompting rumours that the Rivers Governor will resign from the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the Benue Governor said: “I want to assure Nigerians, that we are members of the PDP and we will not defect to any other political party
“We look forward for the leadership of the party to unite and bring all of us together. Thank God, the Presidential candidate of our great party has reached out to me to talk with my brother and friend governor Wike and once our Presidential candidate meets and pacify Governor Wike, we will move forward.”
