2023: Benue people will decide Alia’s fate; he might not be lucky like 2023 – Hon Philip Agbese

A member of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has vowed to expose individuals and institutions allegedly taking credit for federal projects executed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Benue State.

Agbese, who represents the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, made this known while speaking on The Conversation, a political programme aired on Idoma Television.

According to the lawmaker, several federal government interventions, including road and education projects, are being misrepresented as state government achievements.

“We have more federal projects in Benue today than state and local government projects combined. Some people go close to federal projects, take photographs and present them as their own. We will expose them very soon,” Agbese said.

He maintained that President Tinubu’s administration has remained the major driver of visible development in the state, citing ongoing federal road construction linking Lafia–Makurdi–Enugu as one of such interventions.

Speaking ahead of the 2027 general elections, Agbese said political power ultimately rests with the people, not political office holders or party structures.

“Governors don’t vote. The people do. I won with the people before, and I will win with them again,” he stated.

The lawmaker insisted that the Benue electorate would determine the political future of Governor Hyacinth Alia, based strictly on performance.

“If the people say a government has performed, they will reward it. If they say it has failed, they will change it. Benue people will decide Alia’s fate in 2027,” Agbese added.

Agbese further dismissed concerns that tension within the ruling party could affect his political future, noting that his relationship with the masses, not political elites, remains his greatest strength.

He reaffirmed his commitment to delivering federal interventions and constituency projects, stressing that development should not be politicised.