Benue State governor-elect, Dr Samuel Ortom, outlines how his state intends to key into the oil to agriculture policy of the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Ortom spoke during a visit to the president – elect.
Nigerians are excited with the victory of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as president. In Benue State, we are particularly happy that we share a long history of affinity with him. This starts right from his service in the Nigerian Army as a Brigade Commander in the state.
There is no doubt that his victory in the presidential election was fuelled by his strong conviction to serve Nigeria and the tenacity which he exemplified throughout his aspiration to the presidency. We admire this courage. His staying power in the political struggle since 2003 is akin to the fighting spirit in every Benue person. This is indeed the same spirit that has led to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to form the collective will and move Nigeria away from the decadence that pervaded in the last couple of years.
Some key areas are of great concern to us in Benue. I will begin with our agricultural richness.
Nigerians are excited with the victory of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as president. In Benue State, we are particularly happy that we share a long history of affinity with him. This starts right from his service in the Nigerian Army as a Brigade Commander in the state.
There is no doubt that his victory in the presidential election was fuelled by his strong conviction to serve Nigeria and the tenacity which he exemplified throughout his aspiration to the presidency. We admire this courage. His staying power in the political struggle since 2003 is akin to the fighting spirit in every Benue person. This is indeed the same spirit that has led to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to form the collective will and move Nigeria away from the decadence that pervaded in the last couple of years.
Some key areas are of great concern to us in Benue. I will begin with our agricultural richness.
Benue has vast potentials in agriculture. It is a huge base for economic growth when properly harnessed.
It is in this light that we are truly encouraged and excited when Buhari declared that his administration will shift focus from oil to agriculture. To us in Benue, this singular move and perhaps many more by the incoming administration would put the state on the fast lane of economic growth where jobs and wealth will be created for our people. It is a great show of commitment in reviving the hidden treasures of the North. We support this initiative completely.
Another critical issue is power. By this I mean electricity generation and distribution. This sector is one that has suffered from inconsistent policy decisions to outright neglect. Like every other state, Benue needs a leap from the present decay in the sector to boost economic empowerment.
We therefore need to put necessary infrastructures in place to guarantee steady power supply which would support the drive of my administration to create an enabling environment to support small, medium and large scale enterprises. Secondly, our industrialisation policy, which is in tandem with the APC manifesto, would remain a mere dream if the power sector is not tackled quickly.
Let me draw our attention to a very familiar threat to lives and property in this country. And that is insecurity. As we all know, no country or state can develop without security. When we live in peace, we can then put in place strategic plans to boost our economic development. We are all too familiar with the incessant clashes between pastoralists and farmers in many parts of the country. From Benue to Plateau, Taraba to Zamfara, Katsina and name it. Several communities have been sacked by these people whose business it has been to spill innocent blood. For us in Benue, our people who are mostly farmers can not even afford to go to their farms any longer for the fear of these people. Our new government in Benue will be happy to partner with the Federal Government to bring this menace to an end as soon as possible.
Inland waterways is another source to job creation and wealth generation. It is with this in mind that I see prospects in River Benue which is ripe for dredging.
This accounted for earlier plans by successive governments’ plans to dredge the river which will in turn facilitate and boost inland port activities including a Makurdi River port. The dredging of River Benue will also elevate the status of the Nigerian Naval Base in Makurdi.
The operations of the navy here will become more functional and add to the security cover around the state.
Ordinarily, we would not have bothered to shout on top of our voices on this matter if it had not occurred in the past. I talk of the relocation of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies within NASME, Makurdi to Abia. Sometime in the past, we had watched helplessly as the Nigerian Tubers and Root Crops Board was relocated from Makurdi to Umudike also in the East. This should not happen again. We appeal to His Excellency to prevail on the authorities concerned to rescind the decision to relocate this school from Benue. Youths and unemployment is a sore taste in our mouth as leaders. For us in Benue, our strategy as we take over the reins of power is to encourage micro, small and medium enterprises as well as encourage inreased trading and commercial activities.
The core thrust of this policy is to eradicate ignorance, poverty and disease. With this, there will be jobs for the teeming youths as quickly as possible for us to enjoy peace.
I will like to express the will of our people for the candidature of our leader, Senator George Akume, for the office of president of the Senate. In advanced democracies, leaders move up the ladder after exhibiting tremendous capabilities in their responsibilities. Senator Akume has shown more than enough of these qualities. It is under the leadership of this distinguished Nigerian that he APC grew in leaps and bounds within the North Central region.
Source: vanguardngr.
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