The Tiv Youth Council Worldwide has enjoined Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state to desist from partaking in the alleged plot to ensure the removal of the National Chairman of the opposition People’s democratic party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
The group also urged Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers to steer clear of such plot in the interest of the Tiv nation.
The group led by Mr Mike Msuaan wondered why Ortom who is a confidant of Governor Wike has blatantly refused to initiate peace efforts between him and Ayu after the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the PDP.
The group thereby urged Ortom to desist from any act that would be misconstrued that he doesn’t mean well for prosperous Tiv sons in the country.
The group thereby called on the Tiv traditional council, and other prominent and well-meaning sons of Tiv land to intervene and stop the ongoing machinations to unseat Ayu.
It noted: ” Ortom is a very close, trusted and bosom friend of Governor Nyesom Wike. This friendship led to the conferment of the chieftaincy title of ‘ Igyuve I Tiv” on Governor Wike by the Tiv Traditional Council this cementing the relationship between the Tiv people and Governor Wike.
” It is strange that a title holder like Wike will insist on the removal of a prominent Tiv son as the only condition to reconcile with the flag bearer of the PDP ”
” It is our belief that governor Ortom is fully aware of the clandestine moves to remove Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP. Ortom who claims to be outspoken has kept mute over the demand of his friend Wike, to have his (Ortom) kinsman removed as the National Chairman.”
“At the inception of the Ortom administration, he persecuted his predecessor Sen. Gabriel Suswam intensely. Ortom linked his inability to perform to the alleged state funds siphoned by Suswam. He set up a Judicial panel of inquiry which indicted Suswam of mismanagement of the state funds.
“Ortom has issued a white paper. Many political pundits hold the opinion that the detention of Suswam by security operatives for 73 days was the highlight of the governor’s onslaught against his predecessor”
“In his bid to seek for an unpopular second term bid in 2019, after a dismal performance, Governor Ortom claimed that his benefactor Sen. George Akume, the leader of the APC, issued him a red card. He decamped to the PDP and this became for the persecution of Sen. Akume. In fact, Ortom boasted publicly that he had retired Sen. Akume from politics.”