The flag-off campaign which was held at the IBB Square, Makurdi, was graced by the PDP aggrieved governors of Rivers, Abia, Oyo, and Enugu States; Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Seyi Makinde, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi respectively.
Speaking during the event, Governor Ortom, who was supported by the other four governors, appreciated them for gracing the occasion despite their busy schedules.
He particularly thanked Wike for donating part of his campaign vehicles to Benue to support the campaign and prayed to God to bless them for their solidarity.
Ortom said, “(The) PDP in Benue State has no problems. By the grace of God, we have been winning our elections and we will win again.”
Also speaking, Governor Ikpeazu said, “The issue at stake today is about us in Benue choosing life over death and we have seen the efforts that Governor Ortom has made to cry about our plight here in Benue State.
“Anybody who takes us away from our farms wants to take our lives away. Therefore, I will ask and urge the people of Benue State to follow Ortom. Follow him wey know road. Don’t follow somebody wey no know road.
“I believe that Ortom is the Moses that will take Benue to the promised land. The candidates of the PDP will lead the way to take Benue out of Egypt. My prayer is that Benue people will be wise and follow Uba and all our National Assembly candidates and all others in the PDP. Vote the PDP all the way.”
Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Seyi Makinde described Ortom as God’s gift to Benue, saying they were in the state to lend their support to the state’s campaign flag-off.
Makinde, however, said, “My only message to you is don’t be complacent, I beg you in the name of God. Go out there, put in the hard work and deliver Benue to the PDP. You have done it before and you will do it again.
“I wish you a successful campaign and that by February/March 2023, you will have delivered all your candidates to the PDP.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, turned the arena to a carnival of sort when he asked the crowd if he should “pepper them”, to which they chorused a loud “yes”.
He said, “We came here to support a man whom you can sleep with your two eyes closed; your Governor is a man who believes in his people; your Governor is a man who can die for his people.
“Your Governor is a man who cannot change from whatever it takes… because he believes first that Benue must survive and that is why we have all left everything we are doing in our states to come and give you support to tell you that anything Ortom tells you to do, do it; it will be for the interest of Benue State.
“This man is a gift to the people of Benue State. We have come to support the people of Benue State to win elections and God in his infinite mercy will deliver the people of Benue State.”
Earlier, the governors had inaugurated road projects within Makurdi metropolis.
