Ahead of the forthcoming elections, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has thrown his weight behind Atiku Abubakar and Gov. Samuel Ortom urging the people of Agatu and Apa to vote them and all PDP candidates in 2019 elections.
Senator Mark made the call on Monday, in Obagaji, Agatu Local Government Area during the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign tour of the council.
Senator Mark who noted that Gov. Samuel Ortom deserved re-election in 2019, said God will be happy if they vote him again considering his struggle for them.
He noted that Ortom has put his life on the line by signing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 and stood in the gap to defend them all through the attacks from invading Fulani herders/mercenaries.
He urged them to reciprocate the good gesture by ensuring that no vote goes outside the PDP in the forthcoming elections.
Senator Mark who stated that the Idoma nation has no option other than the PDP, charged the traditional rulers to ensure that no single vote goes to another party insisting that their votes should be protected as the ruling APC was planning to rig the elections.
Gov. Ortom while soliciting support, royal blessings and prayers from the traditional and religious rulers, acknowledged their role in promoting peace and development of the community and assured them that an amendment to the Local Government and Chieftaincy Law was being done to accommodate tax collectors.
The Governor stated that as traditional rulers, the law does not permit them to be involved in partisan politics but that they have the right to vote candidates of their choice.
He stated that apart from the completed and ongoing infrastructural projects in the area, more dividends would be provided for people of the area if he is re-elected.
He therefore appealed to the Christian community in Agatu and Apa as well as all Benue people to pray for Atiku Abubakar and also vote him as president in the forthcoming elections.
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The Governor assured that when Atiku is voted in to replace President Mohammadu Buhari in office, Nigerians will smile as the PDP has been rebranded to deliver dividends to Nigerians.
“2019 election is about preserving our people, our land and our posterity. The PDP has been rebranded to provide good governance and deliver democracy dividends to Nigerians and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the right candidate.”
Second class chief of Agatu, Dr. Godwin Onah, said the Agatu traditional council had not only given its royal blessings to the Governor but also wished him resounding victory at the polls.
He listed the Ranching Law, completion of the Obagaji- Oshigbudu road and award of contract for the construction of Obagaji- Okokolo- Agagbe road, provision of garri processing industry, extension of electricity from Oshigbudu to Ogule, construction of primary schools in all the council wards of the local government and employment of various sons and daughters of Agatu among others as reasons for their support for the Governor.