The governorship candidate of APC in Benue, Hyacinth Alia, says his main mission in politics is to liberate Benue people from endemic poverty, accusing past governors and military administrators of the state of “unconscionable” looting of public treasury.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Alia said he had resolved to liberate the people of Benue from incompetent leadership.

He explained that the time had come to stop “the unconscionable looting of public funds, poverty and economic backwardness” that had characterised Benue since its creation on February 3, 1976.

“Successive rulers of the state have failed to address the plight of the governed and have failed to harness the enormous natural and human resources of the state for the benefit of the citizenry,” he said.

Mr Alia further disclosed that he had put together a “bold and strategic comprehensive plan of action, aimed at reinvigorating key areas of the state’s local economy.”

He stressed that the blueprint would spur economic growth, generate productivity and prosperity and improve the standard of living of Benue citizens.

The governorship hopeful said the APC campaign manifesto and development blueprint would be unveiled at the stipulated time for electioneering campaigns as outlined by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“I have always believed that a sustained, comprehensive growth and technological advancement of the nation is partly hinged on equitable distribution of prosperity and improved standard of living of the people,” the APC gubernatorial candidate noted.

Mr Alia identified key ingredients of economic development and national transformation as agricultural transformation, food security, education, communication technology, industrialisation, commerce, rural development, human and social development, security, tourism and environmental management.

“Of the 60 million tonnes of yam produced annually by Nigeria, which comes majorly from Benue state, only 200 tonnes are exported, and 30 per cent of this meagre figure rots in transit due to poor preservation,” Mr Alia stressed. “Yam farmers and exporters have continued to count their losses, rather than counting their gains at the end of each farming season.” 

(NAN)