Politics
G-5 PDP Governors Epitomise Integrity, Patriotism, Justice – Ortom
The principles driving the group of five (G-5) governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been revealed to symbolise integrity, patriotism, equity, fairness and justice.
The Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, made the disclosure during a cultural night dinner organised by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for his colleagues at the Government House, Enugu, over the weekend.
Other members of the G5 at the event were the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, while Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was out of the country for an official engagement.
Thanking Governor Ugwuanyi for the warm reception he accorded them, Governor Ortom said that the G5 PDP Governors also known as Integrity Governors were passionate about the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria, stating that “we want things to work.”
The Benue State Governor stressed that “our passion is how can we make things work here in Nigeria by being disciplined,” adding: “It is not about ourselves; it is not about our ego; it is about what we would do to turn around things and ensure the rule of law, due process and integrity in what we do so that we will have other people visiting us; so that there will be security; so that our economy will be on the right path.”
Pointing out that proffering solutions to the present situation of Nigeria is beyond political affiliation, Governor Ortom harped on the need for all hands to join together to make the country work for the interest of the people.
“The challenge is that we can see that we are going beneath the bottom. But, by the Grace of God, we will all put our hands together.
It is not just President Buhari, it is not just about political parties, APC, PDP and all other ones, but it is how can we come together and cause things to work for our country, Nigeria.
“God has blessed us. We have everything that is needed to make Nigeria, not just the giant of Africa, but also the giant of the world if we are able to put ourselves together and work together for our common interest,” he said.
Gov. Ortom on behalf of the G-5 Governors, appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi and stakeholders of Enugu State present at the dinner including the Deputy Governor, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, the PDP State Chairman, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, and the Director General, PDP State Campaign Organisation, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, for their hospitality and support and promised that the governors will reciprocate the gesture during the flag off of the PDP state campaign in Enugu.
“We are grateful once again. God bless you and may God continue to bless this union of G5,” he added.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
