Ahead of 2019 general election, the people of Tarka Local government Area, the home town of Benue Opposition leader, Senator George Akume, have pledged their unalloyed support for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state.
Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom had on Friday, led his campaign train to Wanune in Tarka LGA after which he proceeded to his hometown, Gbajimba in Guma LGA to canvass for votes for the party.
Addressing the mammoth crowd which received him in Wannune and Gbajimba respectively, Ortom charged the people to rise up and take their destinies in their hands by voting Atiku Abubakar as President and all the PDP candidates in the coming elections to put an end to a cabalistic leadership in the country.
Ortom who said only Atiku can deliver democracy dividends to Nigerians also said a vote for Atiku was a vote for shield and friendship adding, “Atiku is a friend of the Tiv people who gave him a title “Zege Mule U Tiv” meaning “Friend of the Tiv.”’
He decried the inability of President Buhari to deliver the desired dividends to Nigerians and pleaded for forgiveness for supporting and leading Benue people to vote for Buhari in 2015.
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Ortom thanked the people of Tarka and his kinsmen for coming out en mass to receive him pledging that the PDP when elected will put an end to recession and tackle insecurity.
Also addressing the people, former Senate president, Dr. Iyorchi Ayu lambasted Senator Akume for pitching tents with the enemies of the state.
“I did not groom Akume to become an enemy of Tiv, I was not grooming him from a minor to Permanent secretary, two time governor and as senator to become a problem to the Tiv nation nor to align with Jihadists against Tiv. It’s a high time for him to return to Tiv polity (PDP) to avoid our wrath”, Ayu said in Tarka.
Others who spoke at the campaign rally included the state’s PDP Chairman, Sir John Ngbede, House of Rep. member Orker Jev who is also the party’s candidate for the Benue Northeast senatorial seat and others canvassed for votes for the party and called on the people to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, to enable them exercise their Franchise.