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Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom
The immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Monday, called for an end to the infighting in the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Benue PDP has been factionalised and engulfed in an internal crisis shortly after the ward congress leading to suspension of and counter-suspension of party leaders.
A group loyal to Ortom, last week, slammed suspension on the Benue PDP Chairman, John Ngbede, the Secretary and Organising Secretary.
In a swift reaction, the party’s State Working Committee, loyal to ex-governor, Gabriel Suswam, also slammed suspension on Ortom.
Ortom’s suspension irked his supporters who then summoned Suswam for probe over alleged anti-party activities.
As the ugly game continued, the National Working Committee of the party ordered the dissolution of the State Working Committee members whose tenure had expired and resolved to constitute a caretaker committee to oversee the party in the state.
In a statement on Monday by his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom called for peace and unity in the party.
“Chief Ortom says in politics, differing opinions and positions are inevitable, but the differences often serve to deepen the democratic process and contribute to enriching discourses within political parties.
“He points out that he and Senator Suswam share a long-standing friendship and mutual respect as leaders within the PDP and will always find amicable solutions to whatever political disagreements that may arise, by prioritising the greater good of the party and its members,” Akase said in the statement.
He quoted Ortom as calling on all stakeholders to remain committed and focused on the shared objectives and aspirations of Benue PDP as they had always done.
He also commended PDP members in the 23 local government areas of the state for their peaceful conduct in the recently concluded ward congresses of the party and expected them to exhibit the same spirit during the forthcoming local government and state congresses.
“Chief Ortom further urges the party members to support the State Caretaker Committee of the party set up by the National Working Committee, to enable it to succeed in its assignment,” he said.
