Wike warns Ortom against returning to APC, says its tantamount to digging is grave

Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers state has stated that his Benue state counterpart, Samuel Ortom would not return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that his return to the APC would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

The Rivers state governor also urged Governor Ortom not to be afraid of the EFCC because whether he likes it or not they would show up now or after his tenure.

He made this known in Makurdi on Tuesday shortly before he unveiled the plaque and commissioned the 4.2km Senator Gabriel Suswam road in the Makurdi metropolis constructed at N702 million.

Wike later commissioned the University of Agriculture/Gbajimba road project constructed at the cost of N6.1 billion.

On his advise about the EFCC, Wike said, “My brother, my colleague, do not be afraid, you have passed everything, nobody can use anything to lobby you; you are not running for Governor again; they are not amending the constitution.

“Don’t be afraid that EFCC will come; whether you go; whether you don’t go, EFCC will come.

“All those running away from the EFCC, will visit EFCC. Those of us who are not afraid, will go to EFCC. Are we not human beings? Is it not human beings that are supposed to face EFCC? So we are here.”

He however stated that Governor Ortom would not return to the APC where he was almost killed and buried, stressing that it was “One of the reasons, I’m here is to dispel such rumours.

“Today, in this country, there is total insecurity and then people are telling you Ortom is going to move to (APC) where he nearly died.

“Who digs his grave; does any man dig his grave? God brought him out of the wilderness, where he was seeking to get shelter and water to drink and God provided a platform and some people are saying that he is coming back? Coming back to where?

“How can you go back to the place where some people have not bothered whether you are eating or not?”

While he pointed out that he and his Benue state counterpart shared some similarities, Wike also stressed that both of them stand against injustices in the society.

He said, “We must stand against injustices in this country. Ortom is not one of the Governors who shy away from the truth. Whether you like it or not you will die, the day God says you will die. If you don’t say the truth, you will die, if you say the truth, you will die. So it is better to say the truth and die.

“Ortom is not one of those Governors that lack character. It better to be a poor man than lack character. What Benue is facing is similar to what Rivers state is facing but we will not relent. Nobody can tie us. We will speak when it is necessary.

“I go to those states that I know they identify with their people, that care for their people, or fight for their people.

“Ortom stood firm, when his people were being killed. The cardinal point of governance is the protection of lives and property; if you cannot protect the lives and property of your people, then governance is zero, because if you provide these roads, there must be human beings to ply the roads; if you provide health centers, there must be human beings to use the health centers.

“But, we will not relent, no one can cow us; we will speak when it is necessary.”

“We know what Governor Ortom passed through politically. My coming to support him is because I cannot stand injustice. Nobody is a third class citizen in this country. Nobody should deceive anybody that there are third class citizens in this country.

“We will continue to stand together though we might be denied what is due us and intimidated but it will come to an end.”

“I want to appeal to all of you to continue to give the Governor the necessary support and I thank you for standing firm to defend Ortom’s vote from the hand of the armed robbers.

I thank you because I know what the plan was; I was pitying him because I was already prepared to finish all of them; my fear was that, how can my brother contain these people? But thank God, God was with you and the people of Benue were with you and that’s why we are here today to celebrate this road, it’s not just road, very important road.

“I thank you for the opportunity to be here today and Commission, this all important road and I’ll also reciprocate by inviting him to do the same in my state.

Earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom lamented the injustices and the loop-sidedness in appointments.

He appreciated Governor Wike for being a true friend, who stood by the state at all times.