Buhari Must Be Succeeded By A Southerner – Ortorm

A southerner should only replace President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023, claimed Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Saturday.

He spoke during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state-level campaign flag-off in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

In the name of fairness and justice, Ortom claimed to be the first governor from the north to support the Southern Presidency.

“Nigerians, for the sake of equity, fairness, and justice, expect that after eight years of President Buhari, the next President should go to the south irrespective of political affiliation and that is the right thing to do. We are Nigerians and we must ensure that all of us work together,” he said.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, according to the governor of Benue, is the ideal candidate to succeed Buhari, but “enemies of development” made sure he lost the party’s presidential primary in May.

“Your son from Rivers State contested and it was claimed that he lost, but someone of us thought that he was the perfect person to unify, bring us together, and ensure justice, fairness, and equality for Nigerians,” Ortom said in front of a sizable gathering of PDP supporters in Rivers.

The PDP supporters in the state were asked to cooperate with him to guarantee victory for all PDP National Assembly, State Assembly, and Governorship candidates in Rivers, he added, even if opponents of development had denied Wike the running mate ticket to PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

“I want Rivers State people to work with our governor, Governor Nyesom Wike and at the end of the day, just like the G5, we will decide what we are going to do because Nigeria today is in turmoil and it is only when we do the best that can help us out of our challenges – security, economy, social life – and help us retain our image,” he stated.

Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, together with Ortom, were present at the ceremony (Enugu).

The five governors wore the white Etibor garments that are emblematic of the Niger Delta region, together with black caps and black pants. Party members also stuffed the stadium to the gills with PDP memorabilia.

The G5 has consistently demanded that Iyorchia Ayu, a Benue native, resign as PDP national chairman in the sake of “fairness and justice,” arguing that the party’s chair and presidential candidate should be from the region.

At the campaign flag-off, Ayu and Atiku (both from Adamawa State) were noticeably missing.