The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike shunned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar on Monday at the Makurdi Airport in Benue State.
According to Naija News, Atiku held his presidential campaign in Nasarawa State today but decided to fly to Benue State because he could not get landing clearance in Nasarawa.
A few minutes before Atiku arrived at the airport, Governor Ortom was spotted at the airport premises and many thought he was there to receive the former Vice President. However, five minutes after Ortom’s arrival, the vice presidential candidate of the party and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa landed at the airport and exchanged pleasantries with Ortom.
The Benue State Governor said, “So, you people will come to my state without telling me?” Moments after exchanging pleasantries with Okowa, a jet conveying the Rivers State Governor landed and Ortom moved towards it to welcome him.
Governor Wike and Ortom exchange pleasantries, hugged, entered their vehicle and zoomed off from the airport premises.
The presidential candidate, Atiku arrived at the Makurdi Airport alongside members of the presidential campaign council and the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu just twenty minutes after Wike and Ortom left the airport.
Governor Ortom and Wike did not wait to receive him as he was only welcomed by Governor Okowa and other party members.
This is coming hours after Atiku claimed to have met with Wike to resolve their differences ahead of the 2023 election.
Recall that, Atiku while speaking at the People’s Townhall on Sunday said, “I have met Wike two times in Port Harcourt, two times in Abuja, one time in London, personally. “It is not on my part; it is on the other side; I am waiting for him.”