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| Atiku Abubakar |
Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate, has been asked to apologise by the kin of Iyorchia Ayu, the party's national chairman, over his remarks on Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State.
Atiku must revoke his statement accusing the governor and those who have been attacked by herders, according to Ayu's kin, who spoke on behalf of the alliance of Jemgbagh Youths. If he wants their support in the general elections in 2023.
A public apology from Atiku is required if he values their votes in 2023, according to Terngu Ikyernun, the coalition's head, who also stated that while the organisation wants the PDP to win in the general election, it will not stand for his statement vilifying Ortom.
Receiving the group on a solidarity march to the Government House, Ortom wondered why a presidential candidate would be quick to defend a section of the society against others who are victims of violent crimes.
He said though Atiku has spoken to him in private, he must publicly retract his statement profiling him.
“I vehemently condemn the statement against me by Atiku. When it got to me, I chatted him through a WhatsApp message, he apologised but declined to make a public apology.
“You cannot undress an elder like me in public and come back to dress me in the room,” the governor said.