Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has firmly stated that he has no regrets for working against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election, defending his decision as being in the best interests of his constituents.
Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today program on Monday, Ortom was unequivocal about his stance: "I did not hide it. I have no regret."
Ortom was one of the five then-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, collectively known as the G5, who publicly rejected Atiku as the party's presidential candidate and instead supported Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
When questioned about whether his actions constituted betrayal of the party, Ortom dismissed such suggestions outright. "Which betrayal? Pursuing my interest and the interest of my people? The interest of my people is that you provide what they want," he responded.
The former governor further elaborated on his political philosophy: "If you ask me, I would describe politics as a game of doing what your people want, not what I want. Politics is a game of interest, and if I have somebody working against my interest and the interest of my people, I have to fight back."
Ortom also argued that it was inappropriate for another northerner like Atiku to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who had already served eight years in office, suggesting this factored into his decision to oppose Atiku's candidacy.
Stance on Opposition Coalition
Addressing the recent coalition formed by opposition elements, Ortom maintained that he has no intention of leaving the PDP. He expressed no surprise at Atiku's recent withdrawal from the party and criticized the opposition coalition launched under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The coalition, which was unveiled by prominent Benue politicians including David Mark and Gabriel Suswam, was described by Ortom as "unsustainable."
"People are free to join any coalition that they so wish, but for me, and the people that I lead, we remain in PDP. I'm the leader of PDP in Benue State and a member of the BoT," Ortom stated, reaffirming his commitment to the party despite the ongoing political realignments.
The former governor's comments come amid significant shifts in Nigeria's political landscape as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of future electoral contests.
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