Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has explained why the G-5 governors cannot join Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s campaign.
Ortom said Atiku, the PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, and other party leaders have refused to listen to the complaints of the aggrieved five governors.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Ortom said the party leadership is arrogant and mischievous.
The governor said, “No efforts by the leadership of our party have been able to address the issues that we are raising. They have not been able to adopt methods that will pacify and placate the G-5. This is not right. So, on the G5, that is where we are.
“Arrogance, impunity, mischief, will not really help matters. One would expect humility; it is said that you stoop down to conquer, even if you want to make it.”
He expressed disappointment with some PDP leaders in the South who abandoned the demand for power shift to the region.
Ortom said: “I must say that I am disappointed with some of our PDP southern governors who abandned out, who sold out and chose to do something else.
“In the APC, all the governors in the North allowed for power shift, even when they have a majority. I must commend them for fighting for equity, fairness and justice because they considered that the presidency should go to the South.
“We (G-5) are committed to issues of integrity, issues of fairness, equity, and justice.”
Ortom said the G-5 was on course, adding that it will not back down on its demands. He said the five governors had given the PDP leadership ample time to address the issues at stake.
He added: “I think we are on course as far as I am concerned with our group. As faithful party men, we have given enough time. And we are told that the failed leadership at the national level will take advantage of the opportunity we have given them to address those issues.
“There are many ways of addressing issues, even when you are not able to meet the demands of a group or individuals.
“And then, you find a meeting place where people decide to be arrogant, where they decide to be mischievous and do things as if the other person does not exist and try to do some things with impunity, as if they have won election and they don’t need any other person. It becomes a problem.”