Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has explained why Ortom gave Obi his vehicle during Peter Obi’s visit to the state, describing the gesture as an act of courtesy and humanitarian support.
Ortom, through his media aide, Terver Akase, said it would have been petty and unbecoming for him to deny Obi transportation during his visit to Benue.
Ortom Defends His Decision to Assist Obi
The former governor was responding to allegations by Governor Hyacinth Alia that he was responsible for facilitating Obi’s visit to the state.
According to Ortom, Peter Obi is a former governor, a presidential candidate and one of Nigeria’s prominent political figures. He said Obi had travelled to Benue to visit internally displaced persons and sympathise with families affected by the Yelewata killings.
Ortom argued that providing a vehicle for the visit was a normal act of hospitality. He maintained that refusing to help Obi would have been interpreted as petty, inhospitable and beneath the dignity of a former governor.
He further stated that Ortom gave Obi his vehicle because he believed political differences should not prevent leaders from extending basic courtesies to one another.
The former governor described the attempt to politicise the gesture as “intellectually dishonest and politically immature.”
Former Governor Rejects ‘Double-Faced’ Allegation
Ortom also dismissed claims that he was being “double-faced” by assisting Obi while publicly supporting President Bola Tinubu.
He explained that he backed Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election but had since declared his support for Tinubu.
Ortom said he remained a man of his word and would stand by any candidate he publicly endorsed. However, he stressed that supporting one political candidate did not mean he could not assist another leader in a humanitarian situation.
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Alia, Ortom Trade Accusations Over Obi’s Visit
The disagreement followed Obi’s visit to Makurdi, where he planned to proceed to Yelewata to offer condolences to families of victims of the June 2025 massacre.
His convoy was reportedly stopped by youths near Gyado Villa, a short distance from the airport.
Following the incident, Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, alleged that Ortom had organised Obi’s visit and was secretly working for the former Anambra governor ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tersoo also claimed that the vehicle used to transport Obi from the Makurdi Airport was linked to Ortom. He identified it as a Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly registered in the former governor’s name.
The state government questioned why Ortom, who had announced his support for Tinubu, would make his vehicle available to another presidential candidate.
Ortom, however, rejected the accusation, insisting that Ortom gave Obi his vehicle simply because assisting a fellow Nigerian leader was the courteous and responsible thing to do.