The Network of Benue Professionals, NBF, has commended Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State for calling on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, to either reconcile with aggrieved members of the party or resign from his position.
Recall that Ortom had called on Ayu, who had promised to resign if PDP’s presidential ticket went to the North, to honour his words.
The Governor made the call during an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council yesterday.
Reacting, NBF described Ortom’s call as a bold step and a positive development that can only come from a courageous and honest man with a conscience.
In a statement signed by NBF’s National Coordinator, Obed Kuhwa, the body observed that Ayu made the pledge on his own volition without pressure from any quarters, hence he should resign honourably to avoid dragging his name in the mud.
It equally commended Governor Ortom for standing for the truth and calling for “justice, fairness, transparency and honesty on the part of Ayu, not minding the resentment from those who are deliberately blind to the missteps of the PDP National Chairman.”
The NBF regretted that Ayu’s indiscretion and disregard for honesty was threatening the good name of the Benue people as that could put a question mark on their attitude towards those who assist them in achieving their dreams.
The body, therefore, called on Ayu to heed the call by Governor Ortom to either resign or make haste to mend fences with those aggrieved by the happenings in the PDP occasioned partly by his actions and inaction.
It urged the PDP helmsman not to see the counsel by Governor Ortom as ill-intentioned but as an honest show of love from a brother to enable him to see reason and avoid tainting his political image and serving as a clog to subsequent aspirations by the Benue people.
NBF advised those who prefer hurling missiles at Governor Ortom over the Ayu-saga to have a rethink and prevail on Dr. Ayu to come down from his high horse and do that which would grant him political survival now and in the future.
The network said that an average Benue man is not an ingrate, and the action of one man who decides to be an exception should not be used as a yardstick for judging a whole.
It appreciated all those who contributed in one way or another to see that Ayu became the National Chairman of the PDP and appealed to them not to hesitate to stand up and support any Benue man or woman whenever there is a need.