No amount of intimidation will distract me, says Ortom

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer in Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has vowed that no amount of attacks on him and his campaign property would intimidate or distract him from his determination to win the election.

   Ortom, at his campaign headquarters in Makurdi on Monday, where he addressed his supporters after inspecting the damage caused by political thugs suspected to be from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed to them never to retaliate.

   Reacting, however, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Godwin Ayihe, has denied the party’s involvement in the incidence, saying it could have come within the APC itself. According to him, “APC today is divided into two camps – the camp of Ortom and that of the House of Representatives member, Emmanuel Jime, who is in court with the party over non-conduct of party primaries.

   “So, it could be Jime’s supporters who carried out the act because they are still aggrieved at the party leaders. We do not have grievances with the APC. If they have any evidence against the PDP, they should produce it. I advise them to resolve their internal skirmishes.”

   Nevertheless, Ortom alleged: “The attacks have arisen out of fear, which has made the ruling party to come out to intimidate, frustrate, smear and do all kinds of things to stop me, but it’s already late, there’s no way anyone can stop our victory now as God has destined long ago.

   “But two wrongs cannot make right, so don’t embark on reprisals because I don’t want this thing to escalate into crisis, where people will begin to run helter-skelter with the present hardship.”

   “The plan of the evil one is to find ways of eliminating me, but my life is not in the hands of any human being; until God’s destiny for my life is fulfilled, I’m not prepared to leave this earth, so they have no power over me.” 

   Ortom disclosed that he has reported the matter to the police and that the state commissioner personally visited the scene and assured that the culprits would be apprehended, with one of them already arrested.

   The former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment further counseled that there was no need to fight anyone, as even most of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members know he is the one with the formula to tackle the state’s challenges and are working for his victory at the polls.