GOV Samuel Ortom DIARY OF ACTIVITIES IN ABUJA
TUESDAY OCTOBER 12, 2021:
Governor Samuel Ortom was in Abuja for further consultations on how to wrap up dialogue and make a case for a common ground on the National Chairmanship position zoned to the North. This was ahead of the scheduled meetings of the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the North Central and the other states of the north. Before the meeting of North Central delegates, the Governor paid a condolence visit on Hajia Inna Ciroma, wife of late Malam Adamu Ciroma, one time Minister of Finance. Inna was a colleague of the Governor in the National Executive Committee, NEC of the PDP.
Former National Financial secretary of the party, Ambassador Tukur Mani accompanied Governor Ortom on the visit. Later that evening, Governor Ortom played host to the North Central stakeholders at the Benue Lodge in Asokoro to fine tune strategies. The meting lasted long with persuasive engagements on who the zone should present as a candidate for the national chairmanship slot. Some preferred former Senate President David Mark. But he graciously opted out, preferring to queue behind Ayu. Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris, Prof Jerry Gana, Senator Atai Idoko and Senator Iyorchia Ayu were now left in the race. At the end, Dr Ayu was picked after the marathon meeting.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13th, 2021:
Bauchi State Lodge hosted the northern stakeholders meeting. The time was 8pm. The cream of PDP leaders in the North were all on hand. The meeting was short-lived because according to Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri who briefed journalists hinted that the meeting could not go on because “some of our leaders were not properly informed of the time for the meeting.” It was then adjourned to Thursday morning at 11am.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 14th, 2021:
By the time Governor Ortom led the Benue State delegates to the Bauchi Lodge, the venue was upbeat with key political leaders in the PDP trooping in. Political hangers-on were also on hand chanting praises of every dignitary that came in. And for close to four hours, former Governors, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, senators, former ministers and other key leaders of the party participated in the horse trading that took place.
There were three candidates. Senator Ayu for the North Central, former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema was presented by the North West caucus while Senator Abdul Ningi was the candidate of the North East. The three were asked to step aside and discuss among themselves. After a lot of shuffling amongst the leaders, some key leaders also stepped out into the office of the Bauchi State Governor to take a position. After awhile, they came out smiling at some of us close by. Governor Ortom stepped out of the meeting beaming with smiles all through as he exchanged banters with his colleagues. Senator Suswam, smiling, said in hushed tone, that “we have got it. Ayu has been picked by the leaders.” Governor Fintiri while addressing journalists shortly announced Dr Ayu as the consensus candidate of the party for the national chairmanship. This will be ratified at the national convention slated for October 30th and 31st this year.
BACK TO BENUE LODGE:
Governor Ortom immediately asked the North Central stakeholders to reconvene at the Benue State Lodge. He thanked the leaders for choosing to honour Benue State with the national chairmanship position in Dr Ayu.
Ortom in his remarks at the meeting said, “this is a clear manifestation that we did the right thing by engaging each other” and pointed out that if the party adopts this consensus approach in the 2023 elections, the party will come out stronger and victorious. He commended all those who were in the race but accepted the decision to step down. While encouraging leaders of the party in the zone to adopt consensus building mechanism for other positions, Governor Ortom further admonished them to be ready to come together and arrest the issues happening in the party in various states in the North Central.
Former Governor of Kogi State, Ibrahim Idris in his contribution commended Governor Ortom for, in his own words, “bringing the people of the North Central states together.” It was indeed a strategic leadership engagement by Governor Ortom. Congratulations PDP. Congratulations Benue State. Congratulations the PDP Northern political stakeholders.
