The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaking on Monday during the party’s campaign rally in the state, said if the people of Benue voted him, he would make sure Fulani signed a peace pact with the people of the state.
He stated, “I am the umbrella of Tiv people worldwide. If you vote for me, I will make sure peace return to Benue State. I will come to the state and make sure Fulani signs a peace pact with the people of the state.”
“Benue state is the food basket of this country. Today, our farmers in Benue do not go to farm again because of insecurity. I will make sure security returns to Benue state.
“I also promise you that by the grace of God, the issue of unemployment of our young men and women will be a thing of the past. That is why in my policy document, I said we are going to allocate 10 billion US dollars to empower our young men and women with enterprises.
He also promised the residents of Benue State that he would repair the federal roads that ran through the state, reopen the state’s railway line, and prevent the Academic Staff Union of Universities from going on strike.
The PDP which is currently experiencing a crisis, and Samuel Ortom, the State Governor, his deputy, Benson Abounu, commissioners, aides, and the 22 local government chairmen of the state were all notably absent from the state’s Atiku Abubakar campaign event.
However, National chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, a native of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state, Senator David Mark, a former president of the Senate, and the three senators from Zones A, B, and C—Suswam, Orker Jev, and Abba Moro—were present.
Titus Uba and John Ngbede, the party’s nominee for governor and his running mate, as well as a few members of the state working committee, also attended the gathering.
Ayu urged Ortom, who had not backed Atiku, to work with the party in order to preserve the nation during his speech at the event.
Ortom had maintained in January that the five aggrieved governors would not support Atiku Abubakar in the election on February 25.
