Gov Ortom Still In APC – Oshiomhole

• Challenges Fayemi on democracy dividends in Ekiti

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole says the supposed exit of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state from the party is a mere rumour being orchestrated by opposition elements.

He said the Party enjoys a warm relationship with Governor Ortom and all speculations in the public space about his dumping the APC should therefore be discountenanced.

This is as he challenged Dr Kayode Fayemi to be magnanimous in victory by ensuring that his incoming administration accommodates all shades of opinion in the overall interest of Ekiti state and its peace loving people.

In his reaction to news making the rounds that the Benue Chief Executive is no longer a member of the governing party, Oshiomhole on Monday in Abuja described it as sheer conjecture, saying; “I know that Governor Ortom is a very senior member of the party and he has said so repeatedly in print and has said to me one on one that he will not leave the APC unless he was pushed out.”

He told journalists after a closed door session with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members that; “Since I assumed the chairmanship of this party along with my colleagues in the NWC, I know of a fact, that we have not shut out any governor and certainly not Governor  Ortom.

“And in these days of social media, I will not be responding on the basis of rumour and unverified reports,” the APC chairman said.

Commenting on APC’s victory at the just-concluded Ekiti governorship election, Comrade Oshiomhole said though happy that its candidate emerged victorious at the polls, the Party was particularly excited about the transparent and smooth nature of the electoral process.

“We just want to make sure that the results of the election reflect the will of the people. You will also recall that there were issues about police deployment.

“I am very happy that all the commentators and observes, including the European Union are happy that the election was free of violence and that the process was free and fair.”

According to the APC National chairman, “We cannot ask for more. We celebrate not just the fact that we won, we celebrate that under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, we now can see that election can be conducted without people being hospitalized.”

Comrade Oshiomhole stated that despite being very proud of APC’s feat at the gubernatorial poll, its candidate and governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi has been charged to properly reflect on all issues before his eventual swearing-in.

The APC Chairman said Ekiti people are in a hurry to witness and enjoy a new dawn of progress, sustainable development and unity of purpose propelled by a renewed and refocused leadership that would ensure improved quality of life for the people.

He said the party’s leadership has already appealed and challenged Dr Fayemi to ensure all shades of opinion are accommodated while also reaching out to the opposition in the overall interest of Ekiti state and its peace loving people.

Oshiomhole maintained that regardless of who emerges victorious, democracy will deliver its dividends fully if the winner governs well for the benefit of all.

Noting that the people can never lose in a democracy, the APC Chairman said; “We trust that Fayemi will do all that, including addressing the huge liability” that the outgoing PDP’s administration will be leaving behind.