Prof. Terhemba Shija, NDC candidate for the 2027 governorship elections has paid glowing tributes to the party's leader His Excellency Distinguished Senator Henry Seriake Dickson and others for the current effort to rescue Benue State from collapse. In his acceptance speech as the party's candidate in next year's election, Shija said, "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." Shija said he accepted the nomination "with utmost humility", describing it as "a call to service for which I am very grateful." Shija also paid tribute to his co-contestants describing them as people with "sterling qualities and integrity". He mentioned them to include 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". He advised that henceforth, "The war should now be taken to a new level, with the five of us on one side of the divide, united and passionate to change the course of history in Benue state." The NDC candidate lamented the current plight of Benue State which he said 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." He added, "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." Shija promised that, "In the coming seven months that precede the 2027 election, our campaigns shall traverse all 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."

Posted: 1week ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 14 August 2026