Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said that no one can disband the G-14 group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue.
Ortom shared this message when G-14 members visited him at his home in Makurdi on Tuesday.
He encouraged the G-14 to keep being the heart of the party. He wants them to help the party leaders from top levels to the local wards.
Ortom thanked the G-14 for their visit and their dedication to the party.
Chief Ortom also invited all party members to join the state congress on Thursday.
G-14 leader, Dr. Laha Dzever, praised Ortom for handling the ward and local government meetings smoothly.
He believed Ortom could solve any problems within the party.
Dzever denied the rumor that one person created the G-14 group.
He explained that they made the G-14 group when Ortom became governor in 2015. The group includes elders from 14 Tiv-speaking local areas.
Dzever assured Ortom that G-14 supports him fully.
He reminded everyone that the party tradition makes the current or the most recent past governor the leader of the party in the state.
David Amo from Benue North East said the PDP is united and its leader in Benue is Chief Ortom.
Samuel Utov questioned how anyone could disband G-14 when they didn’t create it.
He said even Chief Ortom, the party leader in Benue, can’t end G-14; only God can do that.
Veronica Gajir, speaking for the women, asked Ortom to help the party return to power in 2027.
For the youths, Samuel Akough praised Ortom’s leadership and promised youth support.
Joseph Nengean, speaking about Sankera, appreciated Ortom’s efforts in providing security while he was governor. He noted the security has worsened since and wished Ortom well.
Chief Atsaga Anemba from Jechira confirmed the elders’ support for Ortom as the leader because of the party tradition.
For the Jechira area, Elder Shimawa Adzaigba urged G-14 to resolve the party’s crises.
The National Ex-officio, Ortese Gbegi from Jemgbagh, praised Ortom for his leadership and smooth local meetings.
Speaking for the 14 local government chairmen, Terseer Adigoh from Katsina-ala and Paul Tion from Makurdi promised their loyalty and support to Ortom.