Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, did not mince words when he slammed Senator Dino Melaye, calling him a ‘liability’ not just to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but also to the people of Kogi State.
Ortom’s scathing remarks came in response to Melaye’s verbal and social media attack during a recent North Central Zonal meeting in Abuja.
Melaye had berated Ortom for supporting President Tinubu’s government and accused him of anti-party activities in the 2023 elections.
In a statement titled “Melaye: ‘A Leopard Won’t Change Its Spots, Time to Graduate from Thuggery,'” Ortom urged Melaye to find a dignifying vocation, highlighting his lack of contribution to the party and penchant for dragging its image through the mud, The Punch reported.
Ortom, who outlined his own selfless sacrifices to the PDP, reminded Melaye of his crucial role in the party’s successes, including the 2011 presidential election victory.
“Chief Ortom has made selfless sacrifices to the PDP, having served as the State Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the party in Benue State, National Auditor of the party, Minister and Governor on the party’s platform.
“Chief Ortom was the Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2011. Dino may wish to recall that PDP won the presidential election of 2011 in which Ortom played a key role.
“His Excellency Ortom was among the few governors who stood by their people and defended them in the face of impunity and injustice orchestrated by the Buhari administration and the menace of killer herdsmen. He achieved the feat as a Governor on the platform of PDP.
“Ortom and other members of the Integrity Group which also included the G-5 did not equivocate their stand on the issue of the Presidency moving to the south,” the statement read in parts.
He contrasted his commitment to justice and fairness with Melaye’s support for a candidate from the North, insisting on equity in the 2023 elections.
“Between Dino Melaye who supported a candidate from the North to take over from another northerner and Samuel Ortom who insisted that equity and justice must be done, who genuinely loves the PDP and wants to see the party live the true meaning of its creed as a political party for all Nigerians – ‘Power to the People’? Dino ought to find for himself a dignifying vocation,” the statement added.
