The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has pledged to address the internal security challenges in Benue State and resettle all internally displaced persons (IDPs), create jobs for the youths, invest heavily in agriculture, and clear the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensions if elected as the next president, with Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia as the next governor of Benue State in the forthcoming elections.
Tinubu made this promise to a massive crowd of supporters yesterday, Thursday, 26th January, 2023, at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Benue State, the venue of the APC Presidential Campaign rally.
Tinubu promised to bring the IDPs back to their respective homes and end their misery. He vowed to clear the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensions in the state and also promised to return and spend a night with the good people of Benue State, before or after the general elections.
The APC presidential candidate accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of deliberately sabotaging fuel supply in Nigeria in order to blackmail and discredit the APC-led federal government.
Addressing the mammoth crowd in Makurdi, Bola Tinubu accused the PDP of deliberately sabotaging fuel supply in the country as an avenue to blackmail the APC-led federal government. He highlighted his track record of achievements in Lagos State as governor and vowed to establish a loan scheme for students. The APC candidate also took a swipe at his PDP rival, Atiku Abubakar, and asked about his source of wealth.
He stated that the PDP looted the treasury, citing the 16 billion allegedly looted under the planned electricity transformation agenda and supervised by Atiku’s PDP. Bola Tinubu promised the Benue people that his party had come to give assurances of good governance, adding that his administration would ensure access to quality education and student loans to allow brilliant students in Benue State to excel irrespective of class or gender.
Tinubu said while in power, the People’s Democratic Party administration gave fuel retail licenses to their supporters, friends, and sympathizers, who are now hoarding fuel to create long queues across the country and make Nigerians suffer, adding that the PDP is a Poverty Development Party.
“They met good oil prices for 16 good years; they didn’t remember gas pipelines; they are what I called saboteurs yesterday. They gave PMS licenses to their supporters and sympathizers. They are the ones who started creating fake queues. PDP, enough is enough,” Tinubu said of Atiku and the PDP.
The APC candidate, who also vowed to establish a loan scheme for students, told the people that his party, the APC, had come to give assurances of good governance.
“Dear Benue people, I stand before you today to share with you the truth about the state of our nation and the evil actions of the PDP. They have been deliberately sabotaging fuel supply in an attempt to blackmail our APC-led government. But I ask you, do we want to continue living under their corrupt and ineffective leadership? The massive crowd yelled back, “Noooo!”
I come to you with a proven track record of achievements as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
I pledge to establish a loan scheme for students, so that every brilliant and indigent person has access to quality education.
In contrast, my PDP rival, Atiku Abubakar, cannot answer for the source of his wealth. The PDP has looted our country to a pulp, as evidenced by the $16 billion allegedly stolen under the Planned Electricity Transformation Agenda, which was supervised by Atiku’s party, the PDP.
But I assure you, the APC has come to give you assurances of good governance. We will work tirelessly to ensure access to quality education and education loans for all students. Together, we can build a better future for our country.
The incoming president also took a swipe at his Labor Party rival, Peter Obi. Tinubu stated, “I am proud of what we have accomplished in Lagos State when we had the opportunity to govern.” I am so proud of it; I did not run off to live elsewhere. I lived where my policies and programs worked. Obi left Anambra because his policies and programs failed. “Just as we improved Lagos State, we shall lead Nigeria to its greatest destiny.”
Speaking to the needs of the Benue people, Tinubu promised to establish agricultural and industrial hubs, which would help expand businesses and improve local incomes. He also promised to make Benue a global leader in agriculture and bring further income to the state and the country at large.
Tinubu was quoted as saying, “Rather than just growing food crops, you will package, process, and brand food items for other African and global markets for exportation.” My administration will establish commodity exchange boards to guarantee prices for important crops, ensuring that you receive a fair wage for your efforts. On his agricultural plan, he said he would establish agricultural hubs and improve access to finance. Both of these will enable you to modernize farm operations, improve productivity, and reduce labor through 21st century mechanized farming tools.
Working with the state government, we will encourage mining in the state in a regulated and sustainable way that benefits your communities and gives the laborer a just wage for his daily work. Limestone, lead, tin, and marble will be extracted and sold locally and internationally to stimulate the economy and enrich the people.
My administration will also invest in the quality of our democratic governance and in the democratic security that we must have. We have heard your pleas. We know of the insecurity, of the violent clashes, and of the loss of lives and property.
Our security agenda will work. It will protect the people and secure the land. My national security plan invests heavily in surveillance equipment and the land. My national security plan invests heavily in surveillance equipment, technology, and the training of our security forces. We stop terrorists, kidnappers, killers, and bandits. “We will mobilize the totality of our national security assets to protect all Nigerians from real danger and from the real fear of danger.”
Speaking further, Tinubu described the APC governorship flag bearer, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, as a beacon of hope for a greater Benue State and canvassed support for him.
Tinubu said, “I am honored to present to you our APC governorship flag bearer for Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.” He is a beacon of hope for the Benue people. His dedication, integrity, and passion for the betterment of our people are evident in his charity work and track record of accomplishments.
As a Reverend Father, he has dedicated his life to serving the people, and as a healthcare practitioner, he has a deep understanding of the healthcare needs of our people. He is committed to improving the standard of living for all Benue citizens, and I am confident that Fr. Alia will fix the economy, create jobs, and provide access to quality education and healthcare.
I urge you all to support Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia in the forthcoming elections.
I will partner with him, and together we can build a brighter future for Benue State and Nigeria at large. He has the vision, the experience, and the passion to lead the good people of Benue into a new era of progress and prosperity. “Let us join hands to create the Benue of our dreams by voting for all the APC candidates.”
Speaking at the rally, the former governor of Benue State, who is also the current Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, His Excellency, Sen. Dr. George Akume, eulogized Tinubu’s leadership qualities and magnanimity. Akume charged Benue voters to vote massively for the APC candidates, assuring them that they would not regret it.
The honorable minister recalled his long friendship with Tinubu, dating back to 1993, and referred to him as a trustworthy friend of the people of Benue.
While describing Tinubu and Sen. Shettima as individuals who do not possess extremist ideologies, Akume said, “When so many churches were destroyed by Boko Haram in Borno, he (Shettima) rebuilt many of them.”
Also speaking at the rally, the Governorship Candidate of the APC in Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, called on the people of Benue to vote for the Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his vice, Sen. Kashim Shettima, to transform Nigeria. “They are the friends of Benue; they know that we are in a deplorable state, and they have promised to lift us up when elected.” I am confident that they will not disappoint us.
Fr. Alia also called on the Benue people to go out en masse, collect their PVCs, and vote massively for the APC candidates from top to bottom in the general elections.
He said, “My dear people of Benue, the power to shape our future is in your hands.” The time has come for us to make our voices heard and have a say in who leads our state and our country. The only way to do this is by collecting our Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting massively for the APC candidates in the upcoming general elections.
I urge you all to exercise your civic duty and collect your PVCs as soon as possible, as the deadline approaches. Your vote is your power, and it is crucial that we use it to elect leaders who truly care about the welfare of our people and are committed to moving our state and country forward.
I also call on you to vote for the APC candidates from top to bottom. We need leaders at all levels who will work together to bring about the change we need. Only by voting for a cohesive team of leaders can we truly create a better future for Benue State.
Let us not sit on the sidelines and watch as others determine our fate. Together, we can make our voices heard and shape the future of our state and our country. “Collect your PVCs and vote for the APC candidates in the coming elections.”
Visit our Blog page for more news/events, and also Follow Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia on Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
