A few moments ago, I was announced as the consensus candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 governorship election in Benue State. The decision was arrived at by the national leadership of our party after a laborious primaries held between 28th to 29th May 2026 in which stakeholders from all the hierarchies of our party including the 276 wards, 23 local government areas and the state caucuses participated. It is, therefore, with utmost humility that I accept the verdict of this selection process. This is a call to service for which I am very grateful. I am particularly honored by the unanimity of recognition in the midst of other highly competent co-aspirants. Permit me to pay tribute to the sterling qualities and integrity of this rare quartet of Benue politicians who, in their different callings, contributed significantly to the growth of our beloved state. We had all vigorously battled for this highly valued ticket of our party, deploying varying skills of negotiation, showcasing areas of our comparative advantage, and doggedly mobilizing support for our individual visions. In the end, I emerged through the process, being one among equals. This is certainly not a situation of survival of the fittest, nor does it suggest a future of winner takes all. It is rather the emergence of a formidable tag team that would surely overrun the present inept administration of APC and rescue Benue from further collapse. It is my honour and privilege once again to commend Engr Benjamin Akaakar, Rev. Tor Uja, Engr. Andrew Aba and Dr. Raymond Edoh for their camaraderie and a well fought battle for the soul of the NDC. The war should now be taken at a new level,with all the five of us on one side of the divide, united and passionate to change the course of history in Benue state. Kudos to our other colleagues nominated to hoist the NDC flags in the three senatorial districts of Benue state; the eleven (11) Federal House of Representatives nominees as well as the 36 outstanding young men and women nominated to fly our flags at the various state constituencies. Our party is aspiring to introduce a new leadership recruitment strategy with emphasis on character and integrity. This crop of distinguished men and women could as well be our starting points. Permit me at this point also to announce the emergence of a new star on the firmament of Benue politics. The young, energetic, cosmopolitan, and highly detribalized Dr. Raymond Edoh is on board with me on this ticket. I heartily congratulate him for courageously constituting the other arm of our great tag team. Raymond and I are excited to share the same platform with the duo of their Excellences Mr. Peter Obi and Senator Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whose purposeful messianic mission is reverberating across the length and breadth of our country. We are proud of the looming image of our president and vice-president in waiting. At this time of severe distrust, insecurity, nepotism, and segregations amongst tribe, religions, and regions, the NDC has come to unite Nigeria and set a new path for growth and prosperity. My nomination as the governorship flag bearer on the same platform with this illustrious duo is indeed a proud moment in my life. I feel inspired by them as I assume symbolic command at the sub-national level in this titanic battle to rescue Nigeria. I am also greatly indebted to the pioneering work of the state Working Committee of the party led by the indominable Chairman, Hon. Ohini Ojegbe, the state leader Professor Isaac Onyike and the host of other outstanding stakeholders who have laboured night and day to produce results in so short a time. I feel gratified that I fit in their agenda of their quest for a viable political leadership in Benue state. I sincerely promise not to disappoint them. This Battle to rescue and reset Benue is inspired by the ideas of the ideologically-driven leadership of our National Leader, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Henry Seriake Dickson who actively canvases the values of honesty, hard work, justice, equity, inclusiveness, accountability, incorruptibility and peaceful co-existence among Nigerian people. His courage and ingenuity to set up and manage the NDC from nothingness to the main opposition party in Nigeria in less than six months is testimony to the tsunami we expect to turn the tables in 2027. Similarly, I deeply appreciate our able national chairman distinguished Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe and his highly respected members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of our party for the job of providing a credible platform for Nigerians. The NDC is indeed a strong tower. The righteous run into it, and are assured of a credible beginning, away from the nightmares of injustice, imposition of candidates, and impunity in the older political parties. Meanwhile, our beloved state is currently facing an existential threat. Hundreds are butchered every other day in cold blood. Large swathes of ungoverned spaces are being created every week as murderous terrorists' herdsmen and illegal miners take over ancestral lands. Scores of schools, hospitals, and markets have ceased to exist for many years in at least nine local government areas of the state. IDP Camps have multiplied in at least one third of the state, housing close to one million inmates in dirty and inhuman conditions. The current administration has intentionally normalized this situation of insecurity, underdevelopment, humiliation, dehumanization, and poverty with relish. While thousands of innocent citizens are killed and villages sacked, agriculture, which is the main occupation of Benue people, is abandoned. Farmers have fled their farms in fear of killer herdsmen. There is no subsidy to peasant farmers. Our people are perpetually stagnating in poverty and deprivation. Tens of thousands of our young graduates remain unemployed as there are no jobs created for them. In the coming seven months that precede the 2027 election, our campaigns shall traverse all the nooks and crannies of Benue state. We do not only hope to plant the structures of our party, the NDC, and showcase our unique approach to politics, but we shall fight to win the confidence of every citizen or resident of Benue State with workable ideas. I must acknowledge the hard work and abiding faith of my campaign team led by the charismatic lecturer and lawyer, Dr. James Mbachintim and Engr. Ochayi Ogebe both who have worked, silently and meticulously organizing the Benue Rebuild Movement for many years, I thank these extraordinary individuals and indeed all the elders, youths ad women they kept together to re-ignite this project in its due time. This is now the time to go out full blast into action. May I finally confess to you all how highly elated and honored my family and I feel at this moment of my emergence as our party's flag-bearer. My wife, Hon. Justice Theresa Shija has been a prayer warrior and confidant in all my endeavors and quest for public office. I assure you that Mrs. Shija would certainly be one of the best First Ladies Benue would ever have. My three children, Torkuma, Vershima, and Doochivirter, have also been a great source of inspiration to me. They are not just my cheerleaders but also my critics. I cherish their candid opinion on me, particularly when they disagree with me. My daughter in Law, Anna Udookwase, adds a special spice in my understanding of global politics and the contribution of the diaspora in the development of Africa. My adorable first grandson Nathan Yangedue, who represents the third generation of the Shija family, is, indeed, the main reason for this struggle. His name symbolizes our expectation and hope for a brighter future in Benue for many generations to come. Once again, I thank you and urge you all to join me as we move from this stage of the struggle to the final electioneering campaign for the general elections in February 2027. May God, in His infinite wisdom, guide us all in this patriotic assignment. Thank you.

Posted: 1week ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 14 August 2026