Frontline Benue State governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, in a compelling speech to commemorate Benue State @50, said in spite the massive despair, Benue shall rise again under an intentional leader.
Benue State was created on February 3, 1976 by the then regime of General Murtala Mohammed, out of the old Benue-Plateau State.
Addressing Benue State indigenes in a short video to mark the golden jubilee, the gubernatorial hopeful said although it’s a huge milestone, and Benue state has contributed to the growth of Nigeria and indeed the global community, these are being overshadowed by a well orchestrated insecurity.
Insecurity he said has knocked lives out of hundreds of our beloved compatriots, displaced families, disrupted farming/other economic activities and has emptied our rural communities.
Find his complete speech:
Good evening my beloved compatriots and residents of Benue State. Today marks the 50th year that our beloved state was created. It was created in 1976 and I’ve decided to make a speech to commemorate it.
Our amiable Benue State is 50 years today; this is no doubt a huge milestone. Over the fifty years of its existence, the State has shown resilience, progress and maturity—positive attributes that are unfortunately now under threat of evaporation!
From it’s inception in 1976, Benue State has grown into a vibrant State that is rich in culture, agriculture and human capital earnings, earning for itself, the sobriquet— the food basket of the nation!
We have contributed immensely not only to Nigeria as a country but to the world at large in many areas of human endeavour. Over the past 50 years, the State has made giant strides in education— as we can today boast of moving from an educationally disadvantaged State to one of the leading States in Nigeria, educationally.
Leaders at different times both military and civilians have contributed to what we count today as development of the State. However, the current reality shows that we can do far better.
What would have been celebrated as a golden Jubilee is however, overshadowed by a well orchestrated insecurity that has knocked lives out of hundreds of our beloved compatriots, displaced families, disrupted farming and other economic activities. They have also emptied our rural communities.
Consequently, in spite of being the food basket of the nation, hunger and fear have dogged us for many years. This remains our biggest challenge as a people, calling for swift action championed by the political leadership. Continual mass atrocities have held Benue State hostage, suffocating its growth and potentials.
The grip is tightening and we are at the highest and closest risk of losing the State’s vitality. The sight of survivors being cramped in displacement camps, otherwise called Internally displaced people (IDPs) bearing the scars of violence is heartbreaking.
Our people have lived in such camps for too long. They need to resume their normal activities on their ancestral lands under a secure environment with immediate alacrity. The need for both the Federal and the State governments to act fast, cannot be overemphasised.
Even as we moan and bemoan our dire situation, we give God Almighty all thanks for still keeping faith with us. But for His mercies and compassions we would have been erased from the world map.
While we continue to pray to God, it is not out of place to call on the leadership at the State level by his name, ineffectual especially in securing lives and properties in Benue State. This is unacceptable, a Nehemiah is needed at this time to do the job, as the current leadership has shown total apathy and unwillingness to take the challenge headlong!
A secure travel Benue State where everyone is free, gainfully employed and fulfilled is the future we yearn for. Let’s make it a reality now for ourselves and for our future generations yet unborn.
Long live BENUE STATE
Long live FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!
IDOMA ANYA
IGEDE IHYOO
TIV MSUGH TYÔ
I am yours, Prof. Sebastine T. Hon, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, your fellow compatriot,
God bless us all.”
