Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benue State, has tagged Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, his “worthy friend” after several assistances the latter has rendered Benue State in times of challenges.
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| From Right: Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde |
Ortom opened up about the difficult times of the North Central State and how Wike came to his rescue.
The Benue State first citizen said, “Benue was under siege” at some point in time, but Wike “donated ₦250 million” and then went ahead to spend “over ₦700 million” to assist Benue State in tackling “humanitarian crisis” which resulted from “unwarranted attacks”.
Governor Ortom assured he will continue to work closely with his “worthy friend”, Wike, to “liberate the country”.
Ortom made these revelations at a banquet in honor of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, in Makurdi on Sunday.
He said: “When Benue was under siege, he donated N250 million and he subsequently spent over N700 million to support the state to tackle the humanitarian crisis occasioned by the unwarranted attacks.
“He did not stop at that. He convinced Gov. Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom to also assist the state and he donated N200 million to us.
“Is he not a worthy friend? He is a worthy friend and we are working together to liberate the country.”
On the 2023 elections, Ortom said, “I am not going to support any Fulani man to continue to do injustice to my people unless my people tell me to do otherwise.”
In response, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said, “People want to break us but they cannot, we are bonded therefore, we cannot be separated.”
