2023: I’ll prioritize socio-economic development – Benue PDP Guber Aspirant
A prominent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 2023 governorship aspirant in Benue State, Mr Terver Akase has stated that his vision for governance is aimed at prioritizing growth and development in all sectors of the State’s economy.
He summarised some of the core areas in his vision to include, wealth and job creation, education, security, agriculture, healthcare provision and infrastructural development, among others.
The PDP guber hopeful spoke Saturday, December 4, 2021 when he featured on a Radio Benue live audience participatory programme “On the Line”. He pointed out that he possesses the experience and education and has the exposure to the workings of government, an advantage he said places him in a position to proffer solutions to the State’s challenges. He pledged to build on the successes of the past and present administrations to take Benue to greater heights.
Mr Akase said he would evolve sustainable strategies to attract capital inflow to the State through setting up of cottage industries, emphasizing that the Federal allocation alone is no longer sustainable, and with Benue’s comparative advantage in agriculture, its value chain must be adequately harnessed for economic prosperity.
Speaking on healthcare provision, Mr Akase stated that he would build more primary healthcare facilities, upgrade and equip general hospitals across the State, as well as recruit more health personnel, promising to also sustain the implementation of the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme by enrolling more citizens including the informal sector.
On wealth and job creation, the guber hopeful said with the gross inadequacy of civil service jobs, he would utilize the opportunities in the Information and Communications Technology subsector as a tool for job creation, stressing that a digital economy is highly lucrative and sustainable in the 21st century, especially as a platform for youth economic empowerment.
Also speaking on some of the reforms he would introduce, Mr Akase promised to discourage multiple taxation, grant tax exemption to small business enterprises and expressed the hope that with the domestication of PENCOM law in the State, issues of pensions would also be addressed as a matter of priority.
While dispelling allegations that he was been sponsored by vested godfathers, Mr Akase said he believes in the supremacy of God almighty and pledged to operate an inclusive government if giving the mandate, saying his loyalty would always be to Benue people who he said would not regret voting him as Governor.
Some participants, who called-in during the programme including, Ode Ode, Jude Pever, Jerry Uwua, Emeka Anyaogu and Terkuma Agber in their separate comments, expressed support towards Mr Akase’s ambition and wished him well, while Emmanuel Adikwu appealed to the guber aspirant to carry people living with disabilities along.
