Benue 2019: Ortom picks running mate, moves to reconcile aggrieved politicians

macfranc007 October 17, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- Governor Ortom of Benue has picked his running mate for the 2019 gubernatorial election

- He named as current deputy, Abonu, as his running mate

- The Benue governor also enjoined politicians to make the welfare of the people their top priority

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday, October 16, named his deputy, Benson Abounu, as his running mate for the 2019 governorship election in Benue state.

Ortom, at the expanded executive meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held at Government House, Makurdi, said Abounu would continue to be his running mate in the 2019 governorship election.

He explained that he decided to make the announcement during the meeting so as to put to rest the insinuations that he wanted to drop Abounu and pick another person as running mate ahead of the 2019 general elections, The Punch reports.

NAIJ.com gathers that the governor also enjoined politicians, particularly those who contested for elective positions, to allow the word of God to prevail in their lives rather than insist on having their way to the detriment of the generality of the Benue people.

He said an elaborate reconciliation programme would be put in place for PDP members, especially those that contested and lost at the primaries, to make it better for them to work together.

Ortom said: “The reconciliation team will be made up of three persons from each senatorial zone and it will be constituted as part of the party’s integration programme.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank all members of the PDP for what they have done for me upon my return to the party. I want to equally appeal that the issue of new and old members of the PDP should be discarded.”

Senator David Mark described Ortom as a dependable and reliable ally while assuring him of support to ensure his victory in 2019.

He said Ortom boosted his morale by accompanying him to the podium to address delegates at the PDP convention in Port Harcourt, making him the only aspirant to have enjoyed such privilege.

Prof David Ker, in his remarks on behalf of the PDP governorship aspirants, promised to work with Ortom to enable the party to clinch power at the general elections in 2019.

Other party members, who spoke at the event, similarly promised to sustain their support for Ortom and other candidates of the party to ensure victory in the 2019 elections.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Governor Ortom he would not implement recommendations of various judicial panels of enquiries on herdsmen attacks in different parts of Benue state.

The Benue state governor said this is because none of the recommendations agreed with the state’s anti-grazing law.

The governor also accused the federal government of ignoring the implementation of its aspect of the recommendations contained in the reports of the various panels.

Benue Elders Speak on Herdsmen Attacks | Naij.com TV