Governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming 2023 general election in Benue state, Dr. Paul Angya has identified ethnicity and nepotism as some of the factors that are militating against the development of the nation since independent.
The former Acting Director General of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) who featured on Radio Benue programme tagged ‘time out’, said he was not confirmed as the substantive DG due to what he referred to as ‘unfavourable’ disposition of the APC led Federal Government.
“Unfavorable disposition of the APC led federal government to Benue and Tiv people in particular. Until tribalism and nepotism were not aside, Nigeria will continue to have wrong people in position of authority with low progress”.
He explained that he was in the governorship race with a desire to develop Benue state, having garbed vast knowledge and experience in both public and private service.
“As a well trained lawyer with unique background and security expert with intelligence on my finger tips, it would be easier for me to synergize with security agents on how best to address insecurity and implement the law prohibiting open grazing in Benue state”.
The PDP chieftain maintain that having contested for governorship position in the past and criss cross the entire state and regularly interfaced with youths, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, politicians, the clergy and other critical stakeholders, he was ahead of other aspirants to win the seat in 2023.
According to Dr. Angya, based on moral arguments, Jechira federal constituency and Vandeikya local government area where he hails from was more favoured to clinch the governorship position, noting that the 1999 constitution and the Supreme Court ruling had set aside previous political and military arrangement that brought people to power in 1992.
Responding to a question, Dr. Angya stressed that the people of Benue south senatorial district also has constitutional right to contest and win governorship position and the popular votes of Benue electorates will decide who should lead the state, noting that he support the emergence of a PDP governorship candidate through a free, fair and transparent arrangement.
The governorship hopeful disclosed that he employed about two hundred Benue indegines within six months while Acting as the Director General of Standard Organization of Nigeria.
“I opened a state office of SON in Benue in addition to other benefits I attracted to the state as a deliberate efforts to give back to the state and reduce unemployment and ensure that both consumable and non consumable products in the state meet the required standard”.
Condemning the recent call by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, senator George Akume for declaration of state of emergency in Benue, Dr. Angya advised senator Akume to reverse the call and join hands with governor Ortom so as to overcome insecurity that has claimed lives of innocent Benue people with millions still taking refuge in make shifts shelters across the state.
In a related development, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Benue State Civil Service, Dr. Asen Sambe has decided to run governorship race on PDP platform in Benue state to work for the realization of local government system to bring dividends of democracy to the door steps of electorates if elected.
Doctor Sambe who is the national vice president of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, told the Tor Tiv during a consultation visit in Gboko that, for people to appreciate the benefit of democracy, the third tier of government should be given a greater role to imorove the lives of the citizens.
The gubernatorial hopeful noted that he will work towards reviving primary healthcare centers by employing more qualified workers and equipping same to carter for the health needs of the rural populace in addition to placing premium on welfare of workers and Pensioners.
Responding, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, described the Dr. Sambe as a seasoned technocrat and administrator of repute and urged him to continue with his consultation in a peaceful manner and involve God in the project for success to come.