April 25, (THEWILL) – Former Chief of Staff to Benue State Governor and 2023 governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue state, Pastor Terwase Orbunde, has assured his supporters that his aspiration is still alive and achievable in 2023, despite the said ‘consensus’ arrangement not in his favour.
Pastor Orbunde while addressing close political associates and other stakeholders who paid him a solidarity visit at his Makurdi residence, noted that the assurance became necessary following concerns raised through persistent phone calls and messages of inquiry about his political future.
He stated that the more he has reflected on the inspiration to offer service to Benue people as Governor, their support and goodwill, the more he was convinced that his decades of political tutelage and apprenticeship contained the resilience to withstand and overcome obstacles on the way to Government House, Makurdi.
The former Chief of Staff stressed that recent developments with regard to the governorship race and his participation were challenges that could be overcome by the grace of God and the support of well meaning people.
He solicited prayers and sustained support for God’s will to prevail in his political career and promised to issue a more comprehensive statement on his involvement in the election process as soon as he has concluded ongoing consultations.
It will be recalled that the G14 PDP leaders in the fourteen local government area councils in Tiv land had met and agreed that Kwande local government area where Pastor Orbunde hails from had produced the first civilian governor of the state, late Aper Aku of blessed memory who ruled from 1979 to 1983 and was reelected during which military intervened in the polity.
The G14 therefore, zoned the 2023 governorship seat in Tiv land to Jechira federal constituency consisting of Vandeikya and Konshisha local government areas, particularly in Vandeikya since the second civilian governor, Revd Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu comes from Konshisa local government area.
In the foregoing, the G14 last week presented the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba as the consensus candidate out of the four from Vandeikya that were earlier shortlisted.
As it stand, Mr. Uba will be challenging the incumbent deputy governor, Benson Abounu who is the consensus candidate presented by the people of Benue South senatorial distinct at the PDP primaries schedule to hold next month in Makurdi, to elect a flag bearer to challenge other political parties at a general election next year.
