2023: Atiku’s presidential bid suffers setback as Ortom, Benue elders withdraw support

By Adeleye Kunle

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday, appeared to have withdrawn support for the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

Ortom accused Atiku of denigrating him as governor and working against the interest of the people of Benue.

The Benue State governor seemed to have been angered by Atiku’s comments on the recent killings by suspected herdsmen in his state.

Recall that Atiku appeared to have justified the recent killings in Benue State by Fulani herders when he said that the condemnable acts were due to “sustained clashes between farmers and herders.”

His comments are coming on the heels of the elder statesmen in Benue, Minda Leaders of Thoughts’, withdrawal of support for Atiku, accusing him of hate speech and profiling of Benue people.

However, Governor Ortom accused Atiku of working with Miyetti Allah, a herdsmen group notoriously known for carrying out outrageous killings.

“It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing.

“It was very wrong. And it would appear that he doesn’t even reference me and consider me to be a Governor of my state,” he said