Terver Akase’s Vision For Benue And Matters Arising.

By Nathaniel Nongu, Benue.

Pointedly, who will convincingly argue that Benue State created February 3, 1976 has existed these past 46 years without any foundation laid by its past and serving leaders?

Since creation 46 years ago, the State has been led by civilian and military regimes; comprising 11 military Administrators and 5 civilian Governors. Particularly since the transition to democratic rule in 1999, Benue State has experienced uninterrupted civilian governance with Governors chosen by citizens through the periodic democratic electoral process.

In the line of successions, Governors of the State since after Colonel Abdullahi Shelleng’s regime, have simply sustained the State’s institutions of governance, building upon the foundations already established by predecessors.

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And maybe, if we should argue convincingly, then it was Shelleng who laid the groundwork as the first military Governor the State had between 1976 and 1978. He, it was who established the foundation, upon which all his successors are building today.

Globally, institutions of governance outlive Governors, same way policies and programmes of previous governments adjudged as beneficial to the common good of citizens, are usually sustained or sometimes rejigged to function better, hence the general perception that government is a continuum.

As rightly pointed out by Mr Terver Akase recently, “…it is an established fact that the government of Aper Aku also built on what the military left, no matter how little they might have done. Moses AdAM built on what Aku and the subsequent military regimes did, and George Akume built on what AdAM and the military regimes did. Gabriel Suswam built on what Akume did and Samuel Ortom is building on what Suswam did. No Governor can assume office and start on nothing except he is the very first Governor of the State after its creation.”

This validates that Benue State indeed exists with a foundation to be built on, no matter how seemingly insignificant as one may misjudge.

From the foregoing, it is absurd that anyone will make false pretence that he or she is starting the foundation of governance entirely fresh in Benue State. No. Truth is, the foundation is already there to be built on. The only thing that could be brought new to bear, would be the policies and programmes to strengthen the efforts made by past leaders to develop the State.

Since declaring his governorship aspiration for next year’s gubernatorial election, Mr Terver Akase, a prominent aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) platform, has been consulting stakeholders and publicly making known aspects of his vision for Benue when, by the grace of God, he becomes Governor of the State.

Unfortunately, rather than evaluate the import of Akase’s vision, some commentators are quick to remark that “you had these ideas but didn’t sell it to your principal.” Maybe we should ask such persons if they expected Akase to function in every ministry, department and or agency of government. Maybe such commentators expected that the present administration should have been run purely on Akase’s vision, which is an impossibility as everyone have his or her job description in government.

It is glaring and attested to by many that within his job description over the course of six years as Chief Press Secretary, Mr Akase performed impressively. He served diligently, bringing excellent results to bear on his assignment. His principal Governor Samuel Ortom commended him on many occasions and capped the praise on the day he held a valedictory Executive Council meeting for his appointees who just resigned to face their campaigns that if he had the opportunity to appoint Akase as his aide 20 times, he wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

To therefore question the gentleman why he never implemented the ideas then, is a clear lack of understanding concerning how the organs of government function. Those who create such false impressions against Akase forget that Governor Ortom has a well crafted blueprint called “Our Vision for a New Benue” which he has been implementing since 2015.

We must clearly note that our challenges as a State keep evolving, thus requiring modern and futuristic approaches of tackling them. This much Akase knows as he comes prepared to holistically address the issues towards meeting Benue people’s aspirations. Truth is, no individual has all solutions to all the challenges confronting us and that is why there is continuity in governance, as what was not resolved by Mr A could be conveniently sorted out by Mr B.

To paraphrase and contextualize a recent position of Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, we must be conscious of the fact that faces will change, photographs will change, … Governors will come and go, but what will not change is Benue State and her people. Of course, we have no other State to call ours, but our beloved Benue.

Let us all be guided by the above reality and genuinely support the Governorship aspiration of Terver Akase whose desirable leadership qualities, competence and a laudable people-oriented vision as encapsulated in his “BENUE’ S-WEALTH Template” manifesto document soon to be unveiled is one of a kind.

Nongu is the Director of Media of the Terver Akase Campaign Organization for Benue State Governor.

NB: For suggestions and inquiries, reach us via: benuepeoplesproject2023@gmail.com

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