By our correspondent
Group operating under the aegis of Tiv Youth Council Worldwide has issued a warning to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state Governor Samurai Ortom of Benue state and others over their insistence on the removal of
Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The President of the umbrella body of the Tiv Youth Worldwide in a press release accused Dr. Ayu’s kinsman, Governor Ortom of working with other governors to remove Ayu from office.
According to the press release, the president of the Tiv Youth, Hon. Mike Msuaan decried the pull him down syndrome of Governor Ortom since assumption of office and accused him of fighting every prominent Tiv man.
Hon. Msuaan stated that, “at the inception of the Ortom administration, he persecuted his predecessor, Sen. Gabriel Suswam intensely. Ortom linked his inability to perform to the alleged state funds siphoned by Suswam. He set up a Judicial Panel of Unquiry which indicted Suswam of mismanagement of the state funds. Ortom has issued a white paper. Many political pundits hold the opinion that the detention of Suswam by security operatives for 73 days was the highlight of the governors onslaught against his predecessor”
He said in Ortim’s bud to seek for an unpopular second term bid in 2019, after a dismal performance, he claimed that his benefactor Sen. George Akume, the leader of the APC issued him a red card. He decamped to the PDP and this became for the persecution of Sen. Akume. Infact Ortom boasted publicly that he had retired Sen. Akume from politics.
The President expressed worry that the demand for the removal of the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, another prominent Tiv man has the tacit support of Governor Ortom.
“Ortom is a very close, trusted and bosom friend of Governor Nyesom Wike. This friendship led to the confernment of the chieftanicy title of ‘ Igyuve i Tiv” on Governor Wike by the Tiv Traditional Council thus cementing the relationship between the Tiv people and governor Wike. It is strange that, a title holder like Wike will insist on the removal of a prominent Tiv son as the only condition to reconcile with the flag bearer of the PDP “, he said.
Recall that after the PDP national convention which led to the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the choice of Governor Okowa as the running mate to Atiku, Governor Wike has refused to work for the PDP. Info from the Wike camp has it that, the removal of Dr. Ayu as the national chairman is the first condition given by Wike camp for further negotiations with the flag bearer of the party, Atiku Abubakar.
Hon. Mike Msuaan wondered why as a confidant of Governor Wike, Ortom has blatantly refused to initiate peace efforts between the two persons rather on Arise TV, Ortom asked the National leadership of the party to go and beg Governor Wike. According to him, Wike is a prominent member of the PDP who must be pacified.
“It is our believe that the governor Ortom is fully aware of the clandestine moves to remove Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP. Ortom who claims to be outspoken has kept mute over the demand of his friend Wike, to have his (Ortom) kinsman removed as the National Chairman”, he added.
Msuaan stated further that” Governor Ortom who is very good with appearing in the media over frivolous issues has refused to publicly condemn or speak against the agitation for Dr. Ayu’s removal. He has refused to show solidarity or rally round the national chairman”
The Tiv Youth Council called on the Tiv traditional council, other prominent and well meaning sons of Tiv land to intervene and stop the fall of another Tiv man. Hon. Msuaan stated that Governor Wike is a title holder in Tiv land and should be summoned by the Tiv traditional council in a bid to broker peace.
