Terver Akase: Audacity of hope for the Benue peoples project 2023
It is no longer news that Terver Akase, who until two weeks ago, was the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, has officially resigned his appointment to pursue with greater vigour, his political aspiration of becoming the next Governor of Benue State come 2023.
What is news however is that Terver Akase, has set the precedent of becoming the first political appointee of the present administration, to have officially resigned from his position in order to concentrate on his ambition, which has been embraced across partisan and even non-partisan divides, given the ray of hope it comes with for the Benue people.
In our recent political history, Terver Akase no doubt, comes across as the first serving Chief Press Secretary in Benue State and Nigeria to have courageously resigned his appointment in government, despite the tempting aura of convenience of holding unto the plum job.
While some cynics are questioning where has a precedent ever been set that a Chief Press Secretary went on to become Governor, the foregoing speaks to the background of Akase as a foresighted and selfless leader, who is cut-out to blaze the trail and walk on the pages of history with an audacity of hope in offering innovative leadership in the State, counting on God’s divine grace for purposeful direction.
It is nstructive to note that Terver Akase’s service records are clean and open to public scrutiny for anyone in doubt of his antecedents. Akase represents the generation of an unconventional politician who is available and accessible to all, just as he serves as a connecting link between the older breed and younger political actors who are out to champion our collective growth and development.
Coming from the journalism background, Akase’s exceptional brilliance and core competences in discharging his assignments has been widely acclaimed by colleagues, superiors and the general populace, given his remarkable trail of excellence in his career over the years.
The journalism profession is one which exposes professionals to wide ranging aspects of the political economy climate. This vast experience cutting across all sectors of the economy, has over the course of years being sufficiently garnered by Mr Akase, who is well poised to bring it to effectively bear on governance if given the Benue people’s mandate.
Professionally, it must be acknowledged that the job of a Chief Press Secretary is not a tea party. It is no doubt a tasking responsibility requiring creative problem solving resourcefulness and this with an unruffled mien, Terver Akase held unto the job steadfastly and delivered effectively without blemish.
It must be said that the critical role assigned to Mr Akase, provided a veritable platform for the gentleman to gain deeper and firsthand knowledge of the workings of the governmental systems and institutions, including policies and programmes thematic focus for good governance, which essentially prepared and placed him in a vantage position to serve the people if elected as Governor.
Akase’s performance in projecting the views and stand of his principal, Governor Samuel Ortom on a wide range of development issues in the last six years has been sterling. Many will easily recall his appearances on television and radio stations across the country to speak about security matters, particularly the flagship Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of Benue brilliantly enacted by the Ortom administration in 2017.
Mr Akase’s emergence on the political turf at this time therefore offers refreshing hope as he is clearly a pro-people gentleman who is development oriented in his approach. Christening his governorship mantra as “Benue Peoples Project” is a testament to the fact he is all out to advance the noble cause of the Benue citizens, building on the successes and gains of the past past and present administrations.
No doubt, Benue’s political and economic nerve is strategically anchored on the young people, a section of which Terver Akase has shown sincere and sustained interest in promoting their common good. Akase therefore resonates and embodies the endearing qualities of a youth development oriented leader who would harness the abundant youthfulness and open new vistas of productive forces for economic prosperity in the State.
With a solid professional background decorated with laurels and a vast knowledge of the socio-economic challenges bediviling our dear State, Akase possess the requisite leadership credentials and experience that could be effectively utilitized by the people of Benue as he seeks to govern the State come 2023.
As the defining moment for who becomes the next Governor of Benue State steadily gathers momentum, Terver Akase is one person whose ambition resounds with the yearnings and aspirations of the people through enviable qualities that stand him out with an audacity of hope for a greater and better Benue which will be held in trust for the good of all citizens of the State.
**Nathaniel Nongu is the Director of Media for the Terver Akase Campaign Organization.
