Benue chapter of NBC yesterday again defied the threats and intimidation of the ruling APC administration led by Rev. Hyacinth Alia in the State when it held its long expected ceremony to unveil its candidates for next year's general elections. The administration has consistently attempted to intimidate the Benue NDC since tha latter's advent in the State earlier this year. It can be recalled that the Alia administration has on two recent iccasions mobilized thugs its appointees to mobilize thugs and criminal elements to stop Peter Obi, NDC Presidential candidate in next year's elections from visiting the state on his humanitarian visit to Yelewata, a community where Fulani bandits killed more than two hundred people last year. The Alia administration also vowed to stop the NDC and its candidates from campaigning in the State and last weekend ordered Chairman of authorities of Vandeikya local government, Shija's home local government, to stop a consultative visit by the NDC guber candidate to the area, a directive which could not be carried out following the full permission of the Benue State Police Command and other security agencies in the state. Leveraging on the cooperation and full protection of the state's security apparatus, the Benue NDC in a show of defiance, held its unveing ceremony in the biggest rally in recent times by any opposition party in the State. The ceremony which took place at the party's gubernatorial office along Makurdi - Apir federal highway right in the centre of the state capital, transformed the entire environment into a mammoth carnival, with the venue not able to contain the crowd, forcing thousands to spill out onto the highway. Preceding the unveiling ceremony was an official convoy of mire than a thousand assorted vehicles with full sirens under a heavily armed police escort which led the convoy of the party's governorship candidate Prof. Terhemba Shija, his Deputy Dr. Raymond Edoh and all other candidates as well as thousands of supporters to the venue. The convoy took off from the Judges Quarters residence of Prof. Shija and snaked through the centre of the state capital to the venue in a show of defiance and unmistakable challenge to the ruling APC administration in Benue State. By the time the convoy arrived its destination, thousands more had joined the original throng. It was a command performance unprecedented by any opposition party in the State and sent an unmistakable message that the NDC in Benue State is on the war path and intends to take over the reigns of governance come next year. Literally hundreds of support groups including women, youth, socio-cultural organizations from Benue's twenty three local governments - Idoma, Igede and Tiv as well as Igbo, Yoruba and several others were on hand with spectacular cultural displays in solidarity, all carrying huge banners proclaiming support for the NDC candidates. Amidst this massive atmosphere of excitement and imminent change, the candidates vowed to change the unfortunate conditions in which Benue currently finds itself. Addressing the mammoth crowd, Prof. Shina expressed pleasant surprise at the massive acceptance of the NDC which he described as "the latest baby on Nigeria's political block" and particularly commended the overwhelming turn-out of women and youth groups at the occasion. Referencing his deputy governorship candidate, the young and dynamic Dr. Raymond Edoh, Shija explained that the entire philosophy of the NDC is on effecting generational change in leadership, empowering women and the under priviledged as well as ensuring fairness to every constituent group in Nigeria. Shija reiterated his commitment that his would be a corrective administration of four years only, after which he would hand over to Dr. Edoh, thus transferring power to Benue's Zone C, the Idoma-speaking area and noted that this would ensure logical transfer of political power in the state, thus ending political marginalization and at the same ending ethnic tensions and ensuring peace which would ensure that Benue realises its full socio-economic development. Shija assured that four years of his administration are enougg for his administration to reset the State on the path to economic recovery. Lamenting the current situation in which a very large population of Benue's largely farming population are languishing in IDP camps, Shija said the situation is unacceptable and vowed that implementing the state's ani-open grazing law 2017 would be a priority of his administration. "We shall abolish all IDP camps and end this inhuman situation where we are now ranching human beings while animals are roaming freely. We shall implement this law, not caring whether any godfather or tribe is affected," he said. "It is a Benue law, legally initiated and passed by the State's House of Assembly, and the administration owes it a duty, indeed is under compulsion, to implement it for the good of the great people of Benue State," Shija thundered. The NDC governorship hopeful also decried the invasion of Benue State by unqualified contractors, a development which hensaid has been enouraged by the current administration and which he pointed out has resulted in unprecedented capital fight from the State. Shija promised to end the trend immediately his administration comes into power. Shija expressed excitement at the involvement of highly principled academicians in the Benue NDC agenda, and specifically mentioned his deputy Dr. Edoh, former Benue SSG Prof. Alkali, the party's state leader Prof. Onyike and many others. In his comments, the deputy governorship candidate Dr. Edoh disclosed that hw had steppes down for Shija aftwr several interactions which had assured him that they share the same dreams of and commitment to Benue's positive transformation. He emphasized the need for Benue youth to prepare to take over the affairs of the state and encouraged them to work hard and cooperate with the incoming NDC administration at all levels to ensure that the dream becomes reality. A special feature of the ceremony was the unexpected presence of Rt. Honorable (Mrs) Rebecca Apedzan who said she had come out of political retirement to join the NDC after noting the caliber of politicians in the party. Apedzan testified to Shija's sterling qualities, assuring that he can be trusted with the affairs of Benue State for which he has shown total love and commitment over the years. She disclosed that she, Shija and (now) deputy presidential candidate of the NDC Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were members of the House of Representatives back in 1992, and noted that Shija had even then exhibited amazing leadership qualities and was entrusted with sensitive assignments on which he never failed to deliver. She assured that with Shija and his Deputy Edoh in the saddle, Benue State would be safe to resume its journey to just and equitable development and added that with Shija as Governor and Kwankwaso as VP, Benue would have a vital link at the centre, another factor which she said would reset the State on its long overdue journey to economic recovery and development. In separate contributions, the NDC candidates as well as leaders and other stakeholders restated their individual and collective commitment to the party's drive to rescue Benue State and the country at large from the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment.

Posted: 4weeks ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026