Why Benue South needs Abba Moro again

By Adams Abonu
As the good people of Benue South Senatorial District prepares to elect those who would represent them at various levels during the 2023 general election, it is timely to reflect on the character of those who aspire to lead. For a political zone that boasts of a robust pool of human resources, and a mass of people in dire need for quality and effective representation, whoever seeks to represent the zone should be one with requisite capability and has left indelible giant strides. Fortunately, the senatorial zone has not been wanting in this regard.

From the riverine fringes of Oweto in Agatu to far flung ApaAgila in Ado local governments of Benue South, the common aspiration of the people is for government to provide the needful environment to enable them pursue a life of dignity and premium. A cursory observance of the tendencies of the Idomas, the Igedes, the Akwayas and others who make up this zone shows a hardworking people who do not demand much from government but seek opportunities that broaden their prospects in an increasingly competitive Nigerian society. To represent such a people and effectively meet their genuine expectations, one needs to understand these expectations and Senator Abba Moro, the representative of Benue South Senatorial District since 2019, auspiciously fits into this role more than anyone else at this defining point of Nigeria’s socio-political evolution.

Senator Moro’s pedigree as a man who has shown unalloyed commitment to the welfare of his people and those who come across him has greatly endeared him to his people and earned him a bright spot in the national scheme of things. As local government chairman in Okpokwu in the early days of his political career, Moro marked himself out as one who knew how to bring governance closer to his people by leaving enduring legacies that stood the test of time. He was so popular ahead of his contemporaries across the state that he came close to clinching the 2007 governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party. To this date, the ‘Abba Moro Standard’ has remained a veritable benchmark for measuring performance among local government chief executives in Benue.

As minister of the federal republic, it is to Moro’s credit that many sons and daughters of Benue south origin became gainfully employed in several federal government agencies and parastatals, including hundreds who are rising through the ranks of paramilitary agencies. For a man with a knack of selflessness and a disposition to go all the way for those in need of his interventions, Moro left no stone unturned in ensuring that most families in the region were helped by securing viable employment for their progenies. A staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service of Benue origin once confided in this writer how Moro had to travel all the way from Ugbokolo to Abuja, albeit impromptu, on his behalf in 2016 to ensure that he was shortlisted for employment into the service. This is the hallmark of Moro’s character: a readiness to meet the demands of his people regardless of his convenience.

When majority of the people of Benue South gave Moro an overwhelming mandate to represent them in Abuja during the 2019 election, they knew what would be in the offing for their collective welfare and wellbeing. Having defied the onerous odds to his emergence, Moro went into the senate of the federal republic as one who was prepared to deliver enduring dividends to his constituents and justify the overwhelming confidence reposed in him. He proceeded to fit into the large shoes left for him by his predecessor, former Senate President David Mark and thus ensued a myriad of development projects aimed at bettering the lots of the people.

Being a senator for less than three years, Senator Moro has moved motions of strategic national importance, sponsored Bills that became laws and is making viable contributions on the floor of the hallowed chambers that is distinguishing him as an effective representative of his people. He has attracted development that needs to be consolidated upon. These projects are spread evenly to ensure that every nook and corner of the entire zone benefitted and have either been completed and commissioned or at various stages of completion, including construction of a healthcare centre at Apa-Agila, rehabilitation of Ekile road, procurement and installation of solar street lights in Igumale all in Ado local government area; rehabilitation of Ukwo- Owukpa-Itabono road, installation of electric transformer in Ukwo-Owukpa, procurement and installation of solar street lights in Orokam, electrification of Ago community in Otukpa, construction of a block of classroom in Otukpa, all in Ogbadibo local government area.

These physical developments are spread in other local government areas including in Apa where the senator constructed a block of classrooms in Oba community, electrification of Auke and Edikwu-Ankpali communities, construction of a block of classroom in Ojantele; in Agatu where boreholes have been constructed in Obagaji, Okokolo, Odugbeho, procurement and installation of solar street lights in Okokolo, procurement and distribution of motorcycles to Agatu youths to facilitate their movements; in Otukpo where the rehabilitation of Ochoga and Jamaica Avenues, construction of Igaluwa-Ugboju road; in Oju where Uchuo-Okpoma and Obusa-Adokpa roads have been rehabilitated for use; in Obi where Odiakpa road has been rehabilitated, construction of Hospital Road and provision of solar street lights in Obarike-Ito; in Okpokwu where a Healthcare centre was constructed and equipped in Okwungaga, electrification of Olaidu/Ojigo communities, rehabilitation of Eke-Ugbokolo road and other projects two numerous to mention here for want of space.

While contributing robustly on the floor of the senate on germane issues, Senator Moro also sponsored bills, some of which became laws like the electoral reforms bill, local government autonomy bill, the Establishment Bill for the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, the North Central Development Commission Bill and others of equal significance.
While permutations for the senatorial ticket of the PDP thicken, it is instructive for the party to look towards the person who has shown adequate capacity and demonstrated leadership to be the flag bearer.

Senator Moro has assumed a household status across the entirety of Benue South and is doing Nigerians proud on the floor of the senate. What is crucially needful at this juncture is to consolidate on the gains of his effective representation and further brighten the chances of the constituency with his rising profile in the senate when given the mandate to continue.
God bless the people of Benue South Senatorial District!!!
Abonu is a public affairs consultant and convener of MORO 4 TOMMOROW.