By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state on Wednesday tendered an apology over his recent comment that he would henceforth not support a Fulani president.
It would be recalled that the Benue State Governor made a controversial comment while criticizing the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar over his alleged support for the armed Fulani herdsmen attacking Benue residents.
He said, “I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him”.
Governor Ortom apologized for the comment in Bauchi Wednesday shortly after a closed door meeting of the G5 Governors with Governor Bala Mohammed who hosted the event.
While tendering the apology in Bauchi when asked about his comment on Fulani President, Ortom said, “I want to say that was not what I meant when I was captured saying that”.
According to the Benue governor, he did not mean the statement the way it was being portrayed.
Ortom explained, “But all the same, I know that it would amount to logical fallacy if people taken it the way I did, but I want to say to those that were offended by my remarks, I didn’t mean that, I’m sorry about it”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who was apparently the leaders of the G5 Governrs when asked about the meeting, said “All we discussed is to see how, by the grace of God, being a gift to the people of Bauchi, he win the election come 2023”.
“So all our discussions have to centre about selection, and we are out to give him all the necessary support as I said as a brother in the same political family, that’s all we discussed with him”.
Governor Wike had earlier on arrival tendered the apology of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde whom, he said, has travel to United States last Monday, but was there with them in spirit.
Wike said that they were in Bauchi to solidarize with their friend, Governor Bala Mohammed who will be running election for a second tenure, saying “We are going round to meet those friends to find out how they were doing, to fraternize with Kauran Bauchi, find out things with him and some areas we may discuss and help in terms of advices because what affect him, affects us also”.
The G5 Governors are Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ikezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, whereas the host Governor – Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed christened himself as G1 Governor.
