It’s An Insult For Atiku To Call Wike On Phone, He Should Personally Go To Him – Gov. Ortom Knocks Atiku

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue State is obviously not taking the decision to abandon Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for the vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party lightly.

Okowa was chosen by the PDP presidential Flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar two weeks ago after it was widely speculated that Wike was likely going to fill up the space due to his political weight in the region and having come second in the heavily contested primary election.

Since the choice of Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate, there have been mixed reactions from Nigerians especially, the PDP members and chieftains.

Speaking on the matter as a special guest on the Wednesday edition of Arise TV Morning Show, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom frowned at the decision by Atiku to settle for Okowa.

Ortom is an unrepentant supporter of governor Wike and he made all possible moves within his capacity to ensure governor Wike emerges as party Flagbearer but the nature of politics played at the MKO Abiola stadium, venue of the election in Abuja that day was beyond his control. Wike lost the contest to Atiku.

Since then, it was revealed that Atiku and members of his team have been seeking an audience with Wike but the Rivers Governor refused to make himself available for them.

When Ortom was specifically asked why Wike has refused to pick Atiku’s phone call or make himself available for his emissaries who have been trying to have a meeting with him, Ortom knocked Atiku hard on the live show.

According to him, why should Atiku Abubakar put a phone call through to Wike? What stopped him from going to personally visit him in Port Harcourt?

With what played out on primary election day and the way Wike accepted it without challenging his (Atiku’s) victory proved that he is a matured politician. All Atiku needs to have done was to personally go and reconcile with the governor.

Ortom said he does not expect Atiku who is a presidential candidate and has now assumed the position of party leader to sit down in his house and be calling Wike or send people to him. That is an insult to Governor Wike.

Ortom stated this during the live TV programme on Wednesday.