Sen. Iyorchia Ayu’s kinsmen have chastised Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom for demands for Ayu’s resignation. Ayu is the national chairman of the PDP.
The Abuja chapter of the Jemgbagh Development Association was utilized by Ayu’s kinsmen to accuse the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and governor Ortom of conspiring to bring Ayu down.
This claim was made in a statement that was signed by the association’s chairman and secretary, respectively, Terver Felix Abor and Thomas Iangen.
The two claim that on September 23, 2022, in Abuja, the sons and daughters of the Benue State local governments of Tarkaa, Gboko, and Buruku convened to discuss “the issue of the Executive Governor of Benue State and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who is a Prominent Son of Jemgbagh.”
Iangen said, “The meeting noted with concern the series of attacks carried out by Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom with his counterpart, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on the Prominent Son of Jemgbagh, a one time Senate President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, former Minister of Interior, *Dr. Iyorchia Ayu* , the current Chairman of *the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We the leadership of Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja chapter, as a body have condemned this act and call on those who take pleasure in politics of pull him down, with their ill motive, selfish interest without the interest of Benue State at heart should desist from such act.“
The statement read in part, “After extensive deliberations, the meeting came to the following conclusions:
“That Jemgbagh development association Abuja chapter cannot in all fairness to our consciences and our “true support brotherhood system within our constituencies, we cannot watch our stakeholder be dragged to the mud because of one’s selfish interest.
“That Benue State is a peace-loving and a constitutional democracy and not a theocracy or autocracy.
“That those calling for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman should seek proper redress in the competent court of law and stop demeaning attacks on our prominent son.
“ The selection of *PDP* Nation Chairman displayed sensitivity to the complexity of and fairness in the modern democracy of Nigeria and the entire Tiv Nation.
“It is also a betrayal of the advocates of unity and peaceful co-existence with our other brothers, namely; Sankera, Kwnde, MINDA, and Jechira.”
Members of the association pointed out that, should the attempt to remove Ayu succeed, Governor Ortom would be jeopardizing the PDP’s prospects in general and his aspiration to become a senator in particular.
They said, “If the MINDA said our Son is not fit as a Chairman of PDP what is the good for the health of our State in 2023 if we may ask?
“That the removal of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman would undermine the electoral fortunes of the PDP and its candidates across the States and the constituencies where *PDP* enjoy a numerical advantage.
“That considering the fact that Dr Iyorchia Ayu, the chairman of PDP, former President of Senate, Former Minister of Interior, will have greater advantage to deliver *PDP* in Benue state.
“The Jemgbagh development association Abuja chapter is a socio-cultural organization and dose does not involve politics.
“This communique is to guarantee equal opportunity for all mutual and peaceful co-existence, respect and without social Injustice.
“We are disheartened that The Governor who wants to be a Senator for Zone B of the state Comprising of Jemgbagh and MINDA will involve himself in destroying Jemgbagh Son.“
According to the group, unity in Benue State should be prioritized at this time of national peril since it is necessary for the establishment of any political party.
