Ortom explains reasons for lending Peter Obi his vehicle for Benue visit
Former Benue Governor Responds to Criticism Over Vehicle Use for Peter Obi
MAKURDI, Nigeria — Samuel Ortom, former governor of Benue State, defended his decision to provide a vehicle to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during Obi’s recent visit to the state. Ortom characterized the gesture as a matter of courtesy, stating that it would have been both petty and unbecoming for him to refuse assistance.
In remarks made through his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom explained that Obi’s trip was intended to meet with victims’ families from the June 2025 attack in Yelewata. This clarification comes in the wake of accusations from the current Benue State government, which questioned Ortom’s motivations for facilitating Obi’s visit while publicly endorsing President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obi’s visit to Makurdi last Tuesday was met with disruption; youths reportedly halted his convoy near the Gyado Villa area, just a few kilometers from Makurdi Airport. The disruption prevented Obi from completing his scheduled visit to families affected by the Yelewata attack.
Kula Tersoo, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, alleged that Ortom played a role in enabling Obi’s transportation during his stay. Tersoo claimed that a Toyota Land Cruiser used to convey Obi traced back to Ortom and was registered in his name, linked to his Judges Quarters address in Makurdi.
The governor’s aide questioned the decision of a politician supporting Tinubu to assist Obi, suggesting that this might raise doubts about Ortom’s political allegiance ahead of the upcoming election.
In response, Ortom dismissed such interpretations, asserting that allowing Obi to use his vehicle did not signify political cooperation or a shift in support. He emphasized that as a former governor and presidential candidate, Obi was deserving of basic courtesy during his humanitarian visit.
“Imagine how it would have sounded if Chief Ortom had refused to assist him with transportation while he was in Benue on a humanitarian mission,” Ortom said. “To deny such assistance would have been viewed as petty and beneath the dignity of a former governor.”
Ortom condemned efforts to politicize the gesture, calling them “ridiculous and shameful.” He accused the Alia administration of transforming a simple act of kindness into a political issue, asserting that their approach reflected a lack of substantive arguments and desperation in their propaganda.
He argued that political differences should not preclude public figures from extending courtesy to one another, contending that such gestures do not imply political allegiance. Ortom criticized the notion that his decision could be seen as disloyal, labeling it “intellectually dishonest and politically immature.”
While acknowledging that he supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election, Ortom noted that he has since switched his support to Tinubu for the upcoming election. However, he maintained that his decision to assist Obi with transportation during the latter’s humanitarian visit did not conflict with his current political stance.
