A group under the aegis of Benue People Of Conscience (B-POC) have warned the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu that there would be consequences if he dares to tamper with the senatorial bid of Governor Samuel Ortom.

The group was reacting to a statement credited to Sen. Ayu in which he said, he had the powers to stop Governor Ortom who is the senatorial candidate of the party for the Benue North-West senatorial district from contesting the 2023 elections on the platform of the party.

In a statement signed by John Orshio and Tersoo Iorbee, Chairman and Secretary respectively and made available to Daily Independent in Makurdi on Tuesday, the group noted that it was shocked that such a remark was coming from Senator Ayu.

They argued that Ortom singlehandedly made Ayu the party’s chairman against all odds, a statement which amounts to Ayu biting the hands that fed him.

B-POC insisted that should Ayu attempt to make good his threat, he would have the people of Benue state to contend with.

The statement further read, “We observed with distaste the unfolding events in the last few weeks and it has left a sour taste of displeasure in our mouth.

“It came as a shock to us last weekend when we heard that the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu threatened that he had the capacity to stop the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom from contesting for the Senatorial seat after he completes his second term.

“It is even more surprising that it came from no other person than the PDP National Chairman because we all know how Ayu became the party’s chairman against all odds, due to the support of Governor Ortom.

“Infact, Senator Ayu was literally exhumed from the ‘grave of politics’ by Governor Ortom and placed on the exalted seat of party chairman. And for Ayu to now turn against Governor Ortom amounts to biting the very finger that fed him.

“The PDP National Chairman should forthwith withdraw his threat to Governor Ortom over his senatorial ambition.

“B-POC wants to stress that there will be consequences if the PDP National Chairman in as much as makes an attempt to tamper with the Senatorial ambition of Governor Samuel Ortom.

“We state with all seriousness that in the event that Senator Ayu ventures to throw spanners in the works of the senatorial bid of the Governor for the 2023 general elections, he will have to contend with the people of Benue State.

“This is because many times, Governor Ortom has put his life at stake, daring all to ensure that the State was not overran by bandits. We believe the Senate seat is payback to Governor Ortom who has served the state creditably well.”

They further warned that by the action, “Senator Ayu is exposing himself for ‘the kill’, politically and we think that for Senator Ayu to honour his words is a matter of integrity.

“We had expected that since the PDP National Chairman had promised to vacate his seat in the event that the presidential candidate of the party emerged from the North, he should have honorably resigned his position.

“Even if he didn’t want to step aside, one would have expected that the last person the PDP chairman would have sought to engage in a fight with would-be Governor Ortom.

“His (Ayu’s) lack of integrity has put the Governor and indeed the Benue people on the spot. Governor Samuel Ortom had vouched for him. He (Ortom) stuck out his neck for Ayu when it mattered the most. But now Senator Ayu has turned and stabbed the governor in the back.

“This invariably means that politicians in the state would not be taken for their word. We had expected the National Chairman of the PDP to do the needful and print his name in gold, alas, he has allowed the matter to drag.”

The group further pointed out that “To make matters worse, Senator Ayu is enmeshed in allegations of fraud concerning the finances that accrued to the party during the PDP primaries and he has dodged every attempt to make available the accounts of the party for scrutiny.

“B-POC believes that clearing himself of allegations of impropriety would have placed Ayu in the right standing, but even this he has not done, making it more difficult for him to be accepted by party members.

“Based on this singular act, the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu is telling the whole world that the Tiv people cannot be trusted, nor taken for their words.

“Even though we are apolitical, our advice to Senator Iyorchia Ayu is that he should honourably step aside, for the sake of the Tiv nation and Benue state and redeem the name of the Tiv nation.

“This act (of integrity) would further serve to boost the chances of the Benue people, particularly, the Tiv nation and the confidence for people to have to deal with them”, B-POC insisted. (Daily Independent)

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