Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has justified why he met the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, among others.
Reports said that Ortom explained that he is open-minded about receiving any presidential candidate regardless of party affiliation.
READ ALSO: Ban on open grazing in Benue: No retreat, no surrender – Gov Ortom
He spoke on Tuesday while addressing journalists after returning from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Obi had met with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.
Others at the meeting include former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; and former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, among others.
However, Ortom said he couldn’t turn down a request to attend such meetings.
Ortom explained that he did nothing wrong by attending the meeting with Obi.
According to Ortom: “At the end, the solution to the challenges of Nigeria is what matters. Where we are today calls for all hands to be on deck.
“I am free to receive any candidate who comes visiting or seeking audience with me. I cannot say no when such request comes.”
Recall that Ortom has insisted there is no going back on the state’s anti-open grazing law.
He said this was regardless of the relentless attacks on the state by herdsmen, which he sees as futile attempts to blackmail the state to soft-pedal on enforcing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.
While inspecting some projects in the state, Ortom said: “We have not done any policy somersault in any form as regards prohibition of open grazing in Benue State, and we have not shifted ground.
