Benue 2023: I Will Consolidate on The Good Achievements Of Our Past Leaders To Recuse Benue -- Mnenga

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

"The key to success in governance is determination, if you are coming into government with the main aim of working then work, but if your main aim of coming there is to enmasse wealth, that is the first key to failure, my coming there with the exposure and experience, my aim is to make a benue we deserve" 

The Governorship Aspirant, under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Hon. Richard Tersoo Mnenga, has promised to consolidate on the good achievement of past Benue Governors so as to bring meaningful development in the state.

 

Addressing Journalist on  Wednesday during a media parley in Abuja, said that, if elected into office, he would give priority attention to Agricultural, insecurity and infrastructure in order to create wealth and employment for the teaming youths, and the state at large.

The Governorship hopeful who is also the Member Governing bodies of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Federal University Otuoke, Bayellsa State, reiterated that road construction and rehabilitation would go along with his vision to make benue state a real agriculture state, adding that any serious government should have that as it's cardinal policy

In his words " if you travel to Benue state by road through Nasarawa state, just created  recently by Gen.Sani Abacha, with the rate of development, you will weep for benue, that is because the state has been producing good governors.

"There is a popular saying in Tiv, if you want to be king, you don't kill a king" so i don't like condemning any past leaders, but what ever they do, I will do better even more better if elected into office in 2023.

Mnenga, also said insecurity has been the greatest challenges confronting the state. According to him dealing with insecurity required diplomacy, revealing that the claim that Fulani herdsmen attacking the State are foreigners but insisted that, foreigners can not attack without the aid of insiders.

According to him, the greatest challenge in Benue state is insecurity but through proper consultation and dialogue, can be able to put to an end, "if the criminal activities are curtailed, farmers can go to farm so that our government economy can be improved.

“If I become Governor, i will dialogue with relevant stakeholders, especially Northern leaders because i have a good relationship with them so that we can bring the security situation to an end.

"Insecurity is a global issue, President Buhari home town is not left out and Zamfara state is even the worst, all these are Fulani State,” he said.

On the farming activities in Benue state, Mnenga explained that he will do exactly what former Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Audu Bako did by constructing dams for the people of Kano state, so that farming activities can be done through irrigation.

He said, “farming activities can be carried out through the year and it’s very simple to do because Benue people are proud farmers. Instead of our youth engaging in political or thuggry activities, waiting for politicians to give them money, we will keep them busy with mechanised farming because the major priority in Benue is to give a new dimension to Agriculture.

“See the way yam is cultivated in Benue state and if we decided to build Yam flour mills now, it would solve unemployment and enrich the farmers and same thing goes to Orange, Pineapple and Mango, and I will give attention to these areas that have not been giving to”.

On education, Menenga said that, as member representing the zone, having done much for the North central zones "I will use my experience in UBEC to upgrade the level of primary education in the state.

"We have travel to many countries, to do a comparative analysis on their basic education and that of ours so as to know how to improve,and there were some basic innovations we have brought to basic education to Nigeria.

" If you must properly train a child, you must start from the basic education and my experience in UBEC, I will do that very well, but my manifesto will inform you better" he explained