Former Benue Governor Laments State Underdevelopment 

Former governor of Benue State and current Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, has lamented on the appalling level of underdevelopment in Benue State under the Governor Ortom led administration.

Speaking  with newsmen at an a-2-day Benue APC stakeholders retreat with the governorship aspirants in Abuja,

Akume said the state ranks last in every position as regards development, adding, that it behoves the party stakeholders to ensure the defeat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to make for change in the state.

“Today, Benue State remains in the last position in every index of development. We have surveyed the array of aspirants our party is parading. Every one of you is far better than every aspirant whose party is parading. Our people have suffered for so long. They are expecting so much from the APC. Thirty of you are looking for one position, all determine to turn the fortune of Benue state around.

“You all have to sit down and talk as brothers and sisters. Talk peace. We are all one. The elites have tried to divide us. Let’s say no to that. This time the people would determine who are candidates and Governor will be, not the holy spirit that brought Ortom and Suswam through my support.

“Love yourself. Nobody is happy about PDP. Don’t run yourself down. Don’t do it. Let’s work hard to win the election. The President has done huge intervention to reposition the economy of Benue State and the country.”

The Minister advised all the stakeholders and all the governorship aspirants to be united.

“APC is the greatest political movement in Africa and we in Benue State are also part of that movement. If you look at the array of governorship aspirants who are gathered here for this retreat then you know that Benue is ready, committed to rescue Benue, to take the state from the dungeon to the promised land.

“My advice to them is to ensure that their unity is not compromised and ensure that their sense of improvement is not undeniable, and that will ensure that APC takes over Benue in 2023. 

“We want a situation whereby Benue APC is reunited to the mainstream politics. Our late leader, Senator Joseph Tarka brought us back to the mainstream in 1979 and ever since we have never looked back. This party is doing a great job under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. We have huge intervention in infrastructure development across the country, intervention in security and so on.”

Among the stakeholders were Senator Barnabas Gemade, former Governors, Ministers, serving state and national assembly members and heads of parastatals in both Benue and at the federal level.

One of the governorship aspirants, Dr. Mathias Byuan, said he is not opposed to any arrangement agreed upon by all the stakeholders.

Dr. Byuan assured that Benue State is up for APC to take in 2023.

Benue state APC chairman, Comrade Austin Agada, also said the state had always been an APC state.

He challenged Nigerians to mention projects successfully executed by Governor Samuel Ortom-led administration in Benue in the last seven years.

“Even in Borno State which is the epic centre of the insurgency, Governor Zulum is Commissioning various developmental projects now and then. So, how come Benue under Ortom is different?”