June 19, (THEWILL) – The Benue South senatorial candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general election, Comrade Daniel Onje, has said that insecurity in Benue State has been heightened by mischief makers in order to score cheap political points ahead of the 2027 elections.
Fielding questions from newsmen during the June 12 Democracy Day celebration organised by support groups at Government House, Makurdi, on Thursday, noted that what such mischief makers hardly know is that given the preference, if Governor Alia runs with any candidate in 2027, he will win a thousand times over and over.
Dispelling insinuation in the social media that the gathering was a protest against governor Alia on June 12, the former president of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said, Benue people voted the governor in 2023 and are willing to repeat same the more in 2027 since he has won more converts to his side through his performance.
“This narrative is a false one, as the gathering was a solidarity rally for the governor and his giant stride in Benue State. All concerns had been aggravated and we agreed that the state is under siege by foreign bandits and some local militia groups”, he stated.
According to him, some through rhetoric have given tacit support to these bandits and terrorists, and people unanimously agreed on this ground that the administration of President Bola Tinubu and that of Governor Alia impact on their lives.
“Thus, they have been endorsed by the people to continue because they understand the complexity of insecurity across the nation, which is not peculiar to Benue State. Not that we are calling for condonation, but saying the governor is doing his best”, Onje said.
Comrade Onje, who held sway as the president of the West African Students Union in the past, noted that well-meaning people of Benue state should unite and disregard the divisive tendencies of politicians since security should be the concern of all and no one should weaponise insecurity any more.
He pointed out that it is in recognition that various support groups in the state have assembled to celebrate the twenty-six years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria and chose the spot simply to identify with the governor, knowing that he has changed the political and economic future of Benue state thus far.
While declaring his support for Governor Alia to deliver on his mandate, Comrade Onje, therefore, challenged Benue people to be wary of the antics of those out to corner all things to their advantage at the detriment of others, saying Governor Alia won’t bow to their whims and caprices.
