Former managing director of the Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank, Roberts Orya, has emerged as the consensus gubernatorial candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Benue.

In his acceptance speech on Sunday in Makurdi, Mr Orya promised the Benue people free education and to employ qualified teachers.

“I am coming to address the problems of Benue with a two-point agenda, which is economy and security. If you solve the problem of the economy, automatically, the problem of security is solved.

“Right now as it is, your state Benue has so much debt, salaries have remained unpaid, and pensioners are suffering.

“Benue needs someone that has deep knowledge of the economy; one who has the desire to develop the state; one who has the capability and experience.

“I have experience in banking and the economic sector and have come to save the state.”

Mr Orya lamented that Benue youths engaged in menial jobs outside the state because of a lack of employment opportunities in Benue.

“Our children have become slaves to others, labouring as guards in distant lands because there are no jobs for them in their own state.

“My vision is to build Benue that will make youths fully engaged, and their destinies will be guaranteed,’’ he said.

Mr Orya stated that he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as he could not actualise his governorship ambition there because of injustice occasioned by the party’s zoning arrangement.

He condemned the zoning of elective positions in Benue, which he said had denied the state of quality leadership, emphasising that he would abolish it if he becomes governor.

(NAN)