Ahead of the March 9 governorship election in the country, electorate in Benue State have vowed to reelect Governor Samuel Ortom for second term.
The residents said Ortom has been standing for the people despite challenges and would not be disappointed at the polls.
Speaking with DAILY POST on Wednesday in some parts of the state, some residents described Ortom as the ‘Defender of the Benue Valley’, who has gone through snow and fire to defend his people.
Mr. Erdo Yisa, a business woman in the Modern Market, Makurdi, said Benue people will never allow any other person rule them.
“Well, we have succeeded in chasing away those who have held us hostage for years now. Benue people have gone beyond the era of godfatherism and imposition of leaders on the people. The defeat of Dajoh (Akume) on Saturday should tell you that we are not joking here.
“On Saturday, we will all storm the polls to reelect the Defender of Benue Valley, Governor Ortom. As far as I am concerned, he doesn’t have any opponent.”
Also speaking, Ngozi Elendu, an Igbo business woman resident in Makurdi, said she and her family would be voting for Ortom.
“For me and my family, we have agreed to vote for Ortom, reason being that this man has suffered a lot for his people. I have been leaving in Benue for about 25 years now and what happened in the last four years has not happened in the history of the state.
“Despite the killings, he stood gallantly for his people. He has my vote.”
On his part, Ejembi Onuh, a civil servant in Otukpo, said the people of Benue South would vote overwhelmingly for Ortom on Saturday.
“The governorship election is sealed and settled. The last election should tell you that Nigerians no longer vote parties but individuals. Ortom deserves our vote. We can’t allow anybody impose any leader on us again.
“We don’t trust those people they want to bring, we have tested Ortom and we trust him. We saw his strength and weakness and we believe he would do better when given another chance with the support of our people. As for me and my family, it is automatic.”
Also, the leader of Idoma Youth Integrity Network, Samson Oyiwodu, said his group has been going from door to door to canvas for votes for Ortom.
“We have done our homework and I can assure you that Ortom is winning. We had one-on-one interactions with the people and we know what they want.
“They told us their grievances against the governor and we have informed the governor, equally.
“Ortom will get his second term ticket, you can take this to the bank. If this is the only reward he would get for standing by the people against killers. His victory is not negotiable.”
Also, the secretary general of Young Igede Political Forum, Ajah Elvis, said the Igede community has agreed to vote for Ortom on Saturday.
“As you can see, I’m just returning from Oju where we went to address the people on the need to support Ortom. I can assure you that Ortom has no problem in Igede land.
“We are voting for him. We won’t buy the lies they are trying to sell to us. Ortom has our votes and we will defend it.”
Similarly, some commercial motorcyclists, also known as okada, who spoke with DAILY POST in Otukpo, said all their members across the 23 local government areas of the state have resolved to vote Ortom.
In Gboko, some youths, who were seen singing victory songs over the defeat of George Akume of the APC by Orker Yisa Jev at the Saturday’s senatorial election in Benue North West, said the governorship election is going to be a walkover for Ortom.
One of the jubilant youths, who gave his name as Iorliam, said, “See my PVC, voted for Jev and I am happy he won. On Saturday is going to be a walk-over for Ortom. We shall return here on next week for another victory party.”
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