How Ortom Reconciled Wike, Udom

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has successfully reconciled his counterpart in Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike with the Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel.

Udom and Wike have had a cold war over, largely because of the stance of Wike on the presidential candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Udom is the chairman of the Atiku campaign council.

The quarrel took a frightening dimension recently when Wike dared Udom to confront him personally instead of talking to him through his aides. The Rivers State governor was reacting to insinuations by aides of the Akwa Ibom governor over Wike’s statements on the application of the 13 per cent derivation funds by governors from the region.

Penultimate week, Ortom was in Uyo to visit Udom. Many interpretations were given to the visit. And a few days after, Udom was led to Wike’s palatial country home for a visit.

The visit to Wike also came a few days after a court of appeal in Port Harcourt granted bail to Senator Bassey Albert. Albert and Udom are now political foes, following the senator’s decision to contest for the governorship seat against his chosen candidate, Umo Eno.

There have been speculations that Wike may be supporting Albert in his governorship quest. It was not clear if Udom raised the issue with Wike during his visit.

But a statement by Wike’s media aide, Kelvin Ebiri quoted the governor as saying that politics could not separate him and Udom.

“Politics is not what will divide brothers and divide friends. Everybody knows my relationship with Udom, and we will continue to maintain that relationship. We may have different political affiliation or thinking, that should not divide the brotherly love or create a gap among us.”

Udom was also quoted in the statement to have explained that his visit was not political, but a demonstration of brotherly love in the spirit of the yuletide season.

“Actually, this is the season of love. Within this period if we don’t demonstrate that love, love not shown is love wasted. I think that is what we are trying to demonstrate, brotherly love, friendship. And then in the spirit of the season, we must visit one another.”

Similarly, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom explained that part of their discussion also centered on how they can best add value to governance in Nigeria.

“We are going into 2023 and we shared among ourselves how can we best add value to our government, how can we best add value to our people, how can we do things that will help add value to our country Nigeria.”