By John Hembe (Benue State Correspondent)
As the internal crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears abating, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has issued what looks like an advisory ultimatum to the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to resign his job or beg for leniency.
Ortom's marching order to his party chairman and citizen of his state is rather coming as a surprise to many, who, for the first time since the beginning of the rumpus in the PDP after the May 28 Presidential primary, is openly calling on Senator Iyorchia Ayu to go, if he would not beg for forgiveness and understanding.
The Benue state is a known to be a staunch political ally of Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who is an opponent of the 2023 Presidential flagbearer of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar. Ortom is among the group of governors in PDP who are lining up behind Wike against Atiku. Wike and his equally aggrieved "apostle governors" are vigorously canvassing for Southerner to take over from Senator Ayu as PDP National Chairman, since a Northerner (Atiku) is presidential candidate of the party.
Wike and his G-5 governors are vehement that the only condition for them to support Atiku Abubakar's Presidential quest at the February 2023 election was for Ayu to go.
Governor Ortom gave the ultimatum to the PDP National Chairman during the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Makurdi, at the weekend. According to Ortom, he recalled that Dr Ayu's earlier promise to resign if a northern candidate was elected emerged presidential candidate of the party.
He therefore advised Ayu to honour his words now that the party has a northern presidential candidate in the person of Atiku Abubakar. Ortom said: ”Ayu told the whole world that if a northern candidate emerges he will resign. So where is the honour now to continue in office?
“If you don’t want to resign beg for pardon. But it is not enough to say your tenure is four years and you won’t resign as you said it yourself.“ NNL.
