By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Media Aide to former Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Terver Akase has described as shameful Senator Dino Melaye’s verbal attack on his Principal at the recent North Central Zonal meeting of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Abuja.

Recall that Senator Melaye at the said meeting allegedly engaged in an altercation with former Governor Ortom over his stance on 2023 presidential election when he insisted that the presidency should go to the south.

In a statement weekend in Makurdi, Akase said, “we considered his action as just another exhibition of his well known character, and opted not to dignify him with a formal response.”

He however pointed out that moments after his “altercation with Ortom” Senator Melaye took to social media to celebrate his accomplishment in a manner suggesting that he “had just accomplished the mission of insulting a perceived opponent to the admiration of a principal.”

Akase who recalled Senator Melaye’s quarrels with leading PDP members in the past even while in the House of Representatives and the Senate said those he had issues with “during his days in the National Assembly were members of the same PDP that he today claims to love.”

According to the former Special Adviser, Senator Melaye “is a liability not only to PDP, but also to the good people of Kogi State, which is why the people rejected his bid to be their governor.

“In the last election, he could not even vote for himself. His rants and comedy often end up on social media.

“The former Kogi Senator ought to have known that Chief Ortom has made selfless sacrifices to the PDP, having served as the State Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the party in Benue State, National Auditor of the party, Minister and Governor on the party’s platform.

“Chief Ortom was the Director of Administration and Logistics of the Goodluck/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization in 2011. Dino may wish to recall that PDP won the presidential election of 2011 in which Ortom played a key role.

“Chief Ortom was among the few Governors who stood by their people and defended them in the face of impunity and injustice orchestrated by the Buhari administration and the menace of killer herdsmen. He achieved the feat as a Governor on the platform of PDP.”

Akase noted that “the stand of Chief Ortom and his colleagues in the G-5 was clear before the 2023 elections that after eight years of the presidency in the north under President Muhammadu Buhari, it was only fair that the seat should rotate to the southern part of the country. Ortom and other members of the Integrity Group which also included the G-5 did not equivocate their stand on the issue of the Presidency moving to the south.

“Chief Ortom’s position on the issue of the 2023 presidency makes him a patriot who loves the unity of this country founded on justice, equity and fairness.

“Between Dino Melaye who supported a candidate from the north to take over from another northerner and Samuel Ortom who insisted that equity and justice must be done, who genuinely loves the PDP and wants to see the party live the true meaning of its creed as a political party for all Nigerians?”