Former Director General of Turaki Vanguard, Hon. Fabiyi Oladimeji, has described immediate-past governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom as an ‘ingrate” and bad student of history over his audacious comment against the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.
Mr Oladimeji, in a statement on Thursday, reminded Ortom that Atiku is one of his (Ortom) benefactors in his rise to political prominence, adding that it is high time Ortom and his co-travellers stopped disgracing themselves by claiming that they worked against Atiku because he is a northerner.
The statement reads: “It beats one’s imagination how people forget history so soon, especially how they forget those who were once their benefactors.
“Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom’s vituperation against the former Vice President and the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar is a reflection of Ortom’s short and fading memory.
“He needs not reminded where he was coming from, but let me quickly refresh his memory and show to the world that Ortom is an ingrate of the highest order!
“That former Governor Ortom started from a humble beginning as a truck driver and motor garage driver, but through the mercies of God rose to be a governor after being a minister is a good testimony to be thankful for.
“Ortom would be remembered as Benue State treasurer of Turaki Vanguard, a group that I was privileged to be its founding Director-General, when he was struggling to find his feet in the politics of Benue not even Nigeria at large.
“Turaki Vanguard was the foremost Atiku political Support Group in Benue while Atiku was the Vice President of Nigeria. So, at what point, in Ortom’s wildest imagination, did he think that it was appropriate of him to utter reckless statements about Atiku?
“It would also be remembered how Ortom ran to Atiku for financial support during his Governorship election in 2015 when he ran out of finances to prosecute his election. Ortom was accompanied to Atiku by a political leader in Benue State and one-time governorship candidate in the person of Chief Shima Ayati, with knowledge of the current SGF, Sen. George Akume. Atiku made available heavy financial donations to support Ortom. But, Ortom is an ingrate!
“It must also be said, that during the unfortunate disaster that hit Benue at different times, Atiku sent humanitarian support both in cash and materials to Benue state under Ortom.”
Oladimeji added that “perhaps he has forgotten, that Atiku is a time-tested leader who has made many in the likes of Ortom governors across Nigeria through his vast political network. It is therefore ridiculous that Ortom and his co-travelers would imagine themselves as Atiku’s political rivals. Ortom and his band of friends are too insignificant for Atiku to be worried about.
“It is truism, according to recent news in the media that Ortom remains one of the worst Governors in the country, whose wasted eight years of disservice to the good people of Benue will take years of hard work and visionary leadership to correct.
“Hence, he would have won his election into the Senate and return all the PDP candidates in the State as done by his counterparts in Akwa Ibom, and other states. A former Governor Akume produced him as a Governor , it’s quite shameful that Ortom could not produce his successor.
“Finally, It is high time Ortom and his co-travellers stopped disgracing themselves by claiming that they worked against Atiku because he is a northerner picked by the PDP or support for justice for the South . He must be thinking Nigerians are fools.
“It is clear to NIgerians that their action and betrayal was enveloped in selfish interests. However, how ridiculous can it be that he and his friends have been shamelessly running helter skelter for protection from prosecution of their obvious undoings as Governors of thier respective states by the yet-to-be-legitimised APC Government. Tinubu does not need any member of the so called G5 to make up his government. They are only being accommodated at the moment for their nuisance value. Chicken will soon come home to roast.”
