Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday, openly threw his weight behind the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Ortom made this revelation during a Town-hall meeting attended by stakeholders across the 276 council wards of Benue State, organised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in support of Obi-Datti presidential movement in Makurdi.
Obi, who was supposed to be a guest at the town hall meeting, couldn’t be physically present due to bad weather which prevented him from flying.
But Ortom made a physical appearance at the gathering held at Royal Choice Inn, Makurdi, during which he lauded the qualities of the the Labour Party presidential candidate whom he said was among the top three contenders and remained an outstanding candidate who will be able to root out insecurity and unite the country.
“Obi’s candidature came at a time when Nigerians must leave out sentiments and save Nigeria by looking at individuals who can lead with the fear of God and provide gainful employment for the youths,” he said.
The governor, therefore, called on Nigerians not to vote along party lines but consider individuals with credentials, character, competence, educational backgrounds capable of delivering and revamping the socio-economic fortunes of the country.
Ortom also said together, the people must fashion out a new Nigeria that will give the citizens equity, fairness, and justice, as he stressed the need for the people to shun all partisan sentiments because the major political parties today have failed the nation.
“Obi surpasses other candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by age, capacity among others.
“He will do the right thing for the country if voted into power. We all must give him the support to unite Nigeria and solve insecurity challenges in the country,” he added.
Governor Ortom is one of the PDP governors in the G5 group. The G5 group of governors has Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as one of its most outspoken members.