The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Professor Terhemba Shija, has promised to restore local government autonomy, revitalise abandoned industries and implement decisive measures to address insecurity if elected governor.
Shija said Benue required purposeful leadership capable of safeguarding lives and property, protecting farming communities from attacks and rebuilding the state’s economy through industrialisation and effective governance.
He made the commitment on Tuesday during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, in Makurdi, a statement by Agile Ordedoo Bem, Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Benue State Chapter said.
The NDC candidate attributed his confidence in addressing the state’s challenges to his humble background, understanding of the people’s difficulties and knowledge of governance. He also criticised the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia, which he accused of failing to adequately address some of the pressing concerns confronting the state.
Shija assured the journalists that his administration would adopt a different approach to governance, with particular emphasis on security, economic recovery, democratic accountability and the welfare of citizens.
On security, he said his government would acknowledge the severity of the crisis and take concrete steps to end the killings and displacement of innocent residents.
“I will do the opposite of what Fr. Alia’s administration is doing. I will say there is genocide in Benue and ensure that the killings of innocent Benue people stop without taking permission from anybody,” he declared.
The governorship hopeful explained that his proposed policies would be directed towards meeting the immediate needs of the people and restoring Benue’s position as a state with enormous agricultural and economic potential.
He also pledged to work towards closing Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state by creating the necessary security conditions for displaced residents to return safely and permanently to their ancestral communities.
According to him, the restoration of peace in affected areas would enable displaced families to rebuild their lives and return to farming, a major source of livelihood for a significant proportion of the state’s population.
He maintained that protecting farmers, their farmlands and rural settlements would be central to his security strategy, adding that improved security would contribute to increased agricultural production, food availability and economic prosperity.
On democratic governance, Shija promised to respect the constitutional independence of the executive, legislature and judiciary, stressing that the other arms of government would be allowed to discharge their responsibilities without undue interference.
Addressing the issue of grassroots administration, the NDC candidate pledged to grant local government councils genuine autonomy, ensuring that funds allocated to them were channelled towards projects and programmes that directly improve the lives of residents.
He said council chairmen would be given the freedom to identify and pursue development priorities in their respective areas, while remaining accountable for the management of public resources.
Shija, however, warned that autonomy would not serve as a licence for financial misconduct, vowing that any local government chairman found diverting public funds would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He stressed that transparency and accountability at the grassroots level were necessary to ensure that government allocations translated into meaningful development, including improved infrastructure and essential services.
The NDC candidate also expressed concern over what he described as the failure of successive administrations to sustain the industrial and development initiatives associated with the late former governor of Benue State, Aper Aku.
He recalled projects such as the Benue State Secretariat, Taraku Mills, Benue Brewery and Lobi Bank, which he said contributed to the state’s development through employment generation, support for farmers and economic expansion.
According to Shija, Lobi Bank played a role in providing credit to farmers, while the industries established during Aku’s administration created jobs and supported commercial activities across the state.
He argued that subsequent governments ought to have consolidated those achievements by rehabilitating existing industries and establishing new ones to create employment, strengthen local production and increase government revenue.
The governorship candidate maintained that Benue could achieve sustainable development through leadership that prioritises the security of its people, promotes industrial growth, protects democratic institutions and ensures prudent management of public funds.
