With barely a week to the presidential elections, the Benue
State governor, Dr Samuel Ortom, has challenged Igbos in the country to seize
this opportunity to work for the election of Mr Peter Obi as Nigeria’s next
president.
Obi is the presidential
candidate of the Labour Party.
Governor Ortom threw the
challenge Monday, February 20th, 2023 when he hosted the Igbo Community Assembly
in Benue State at the new Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
The Igbo community,
during the visit, also conferred chieftaincy titles on the governor and his
wife, Eunice.
Governor Ortom said, “I
know that if there are people who are connected in this world, it is the Igbos.
This is an opportunity you have to say that an Igbo man from the South East is
president because some of us believe in the unity of Nigeria. We believe in
working together. That is why we accommodate everybody here. We believe in the
unity of this country and so let us not miss this opportunity that God himself
is providing.
“Obi’s matter is not
about PDP, APC or SDP or any other political party. It is about Nigeria. I can
sacrifice my senatorial ambition for Obi.”
He told the Igbo
leaders: ”You are many. You have the population and thank God that what is
unfolding. Peter Obi is someone that is not bonded by ethnicity and that is why
when I hear some prominent Igbo personalities castigating Peter Obi for
contesting election, I feel sad.”
He asked, “Is it not you
Igbos that are lamenting that you have been marginalized since after the war?
An opportunity has come today and you are still complaining? The whole country,
North, South, East and West, are saying Peter Obi, and you hear some people
saying we don’t want it. Haba! Those people should be outcast.”
The governor lauded the
Igbo people for their contributions towards socio-cultural, economic and
political development, stating that their economic models of empowering younger
generations were unequalled.
He particularly
commended the Igbo community in the state for coexisting peacefully with people
of Benue, saying, “You live and do your business among our people without
violence. The value addition that you have done here is great.”
He expressed appreciation
to the Igbo community for conferring on him and his wife chieftaincy titles,
stating that it would foster his relationship with Igbo people whom he noted
have inspired him particularly in doing business.
The president general of Igbo Community Assembly, Engr Friday
Anigor, extolled Governor Ortom for providing a conducive environment for Igbos
in the state to do their commerce.
He said Ortom’s drive
towards total security and protection of lives and property of all citizens in
the state was highly appreciated by the Igbo community.
In his words, “The
recognition, affection and appointment of Igbo sons and daughters in your
government are gratefully acknowledged.”
The Igbo Community
Assembly, led by its traditional council chairman, Prof Charles Ariahu, conferred
on Governor Ortom the Igbo chieftaincy title of ‘Agu Na-Eche Mba I’, and the
governor’s wife, Eunice, bagging the title of ‘Uno Agu I’ of Benue State.
According to the Igbo
community, the chieftaincy titles were in recognition of the ‘positive endeavours
by you and your wife as the voice of the voiceless and defender of the people’.
They offered prayers for
Ortom to emerge victorious in his senatorial bid to represent Benue North-West
Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
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