Reflections on Terver Akase’s Manifesto, Benue’ S WEALTH Template (I)

By Nathaniel Nongu
Since resigning his appointment as Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor in September last year to concentrate on his governorship aspiration, Mr Terver Akase has been consulting and engaging Benue people, both partisan and nonpartisan stakeholders, seeking the people’s mandate to govern the State on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP platform in next year’s general election.

To demonstrate his preparedness, Mr Akase on Friday, 25th February, 2022, unveiled his vision and mission for Benue people in a manifesto christened “Benue’ S WEALTH Template” declaring that with his education, exposure and requisite leadership credentials, having served the country for 10 years as a civil servant before his appointment as Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom for six years, he has made himself available to be trusted with the people’s mandate to further contribute to the development of the State.

The unveiling of the manifesto and campaign website also featured the commissioning of the Terver Akase Governorship Campaign Organization corporate headquarters located at No. 66 George Akume Way in Makurdi the State capital. Hundreds of supporters comprising party members, youths, women, students, people living with disabilities, motorcycle riders among others turned out in solidarity with the guber aspiration of Akase, a memorable occasion that was a clear demonstration of his wide acceptability by Benue people.

Addressing the crowd of enthusiastic supporters, Akase saluted past and serving leaders of Benue State for the enormous contributions they have made towards laying a foundation for the State since its creation. He singled out and acknowledged the patriotic leadership services of the former civilian Governors of the State, Chief Aper Aku, Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu, Senator George Akume, Senator Gabriel Suswam and the incumbent Governor Samuel Ortom, all of whom he noted, have sustained the foundation of the State and made commendable impact in diverse spheres towards taking Benue to greater heights.

A grateful Akase, expressed gratitude to Governor Ortom for appointing him in his administration for six years, acknowledging that the platform enabled him to study and understand the workings of government, even as he appreciated the State chapter of the PDP, under the chairmanship of Sir John Ngbede with members of the State Working Committee, for giving him the opportunity to seek the 2023 governorship ticket of the party.

Akase declared that his vision and mission for Benue State as encapsulated in his manifesto ‘Benue’ S WEALTH Template’ represents these core pillars of governance: S- Security; W- Wealth and Job Creation; E- Education; A- Agriculture and Economy; L- Land Reforms and Infrastructure; T- Technology, and H- Health, pledging that these cardinal pillars will guide him to drive the implementation of his vision for the common good of Benue people when entrusted with the mandate to govern come 2023, while declaring that he did not claim to have all the ideas to drive the vision, but had the ability to harness the best ideas and channel them for the development of Benue.

Speaking on the development objectives and strategic interventions on the cardinal pillars in his manifesto, Akase declared that he would develop and implement a Benue State Security Policy and Strategy in consultation with experts, strengthen border security by establishing a Border Watch Network in collaboration with security agencies, take proactive steps to curb human trafficking in the State by setting up a special taskforce to work in synergy with security agencies, community leaders and the Church to tackle the menace of human trafficking as well as sustain the enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to curb the invasion of armed herdsmen into the State.

Concerning wealth and job creation, Akase pledged to harness opportunities available in the Information and Communications Technology sub-sector, to create jobs for the youths, fast-track the establishment of Benue Information Technology Development Agency (BITDA) to drive the ICT policy of the State, establish the Benue Youth Empowerment Scheme, sponsor the training of at least 450 youths per Local Government in vocational and entrepreneurial skills annually with the target of empowering 10,000 youths in entrepreneurship and the agriculture value chain every year.

Recognizing education as a passport to the future for every Benue child, Akase stated that his vision is to invest more in the education sub-sector, pledging to provide standard infrastructure and well-furnished classroom buildings and offices for teachers in primary and secondary schools to enhance academic performance, encourage timely promotion and payment of teachers in order to motivate them to work harder, institute student entrepreneurship loans for students in tertiary institutions, as well as revive the payment of the existing students’ bursary allowances and reposition and upgrade the Benue State Library to digital status and establish three additional digital libraries: one each in the three Senatorial zones.
~To be continued…

**Nongu is the Director, Media of the Terver Akase Governorship Campaign Organization
For details, log into: www.terverakase.com
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