Guber 2019: John Tondu Pledges Good Governance When Elected
From Msughshima Andrew, Makurdi
A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State, Jon. John Tondu has pledged to give Benue good governance and development if elected governor come 2019.
Tondo who served as Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Benue State, spoke with 247ureports in Makurdi, after he picked his nomination form saying only four years will be enough for him to implement his blueprint.
Mr. John Tondo who noted that Benue people are tired of bad governance said people will ensure that only credible candidates will be voted for and not those with big pockets in the 2019 elections.
He expressed belief that even delegates who will be participating in primaries particularly of the PDP will not go for the size of the pockets but for credibility.
“The people have confidence in me. I have interacted with people both at the local level and party level and I discover that they are tired of bad governance, so they will go for a credible candidate rather than a bad one with big pocket,” he added.
He stated that if eventually he is made candidate of the PDP and subsequently elected governor of Benue state, he will start by implementing the Anti Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law, 2017 with a different approach.
“You can not run governance with emotion. If you do, you will put your people in trouble. As a governor you have a mandate to care for your people and you have sworn an oath to protect their love and property, so every programme and policy should be able to protect them.
He acknowledged ranching as the solution to herders killings in the state but said “I am not going to repeal the law. It is there already but my approach to implementation will be different,”he said.
Tondo also said if he becomes governor come 2019, he will revolutionise land administration to generate revenue and give Benue people the land titles to access funds for business.
He also intend to invest N10 billion into a construction company which will be used to establish and purchase state of the art equipment, for road construction and to execute other projects through direct labour.
According to him, the company will also be used to execute contract outside the state to bring in revenue t state government as well as minimise the cost of executing projects therefore assisting the state to tackle the challenge of salary payment.
He pledged to address infrastructural development saying when you address infrastructure, you have addressed the issue of security. “Security operatives will have easy access to places experiencing security challenge and reinforcement can also be easily done if there is attack.”
He also recalled with regret that Benue, the food basket of the nation, is yet to put in place a model to improve agriculture to become part of the strong economies like some other states of the federation.
“As a government, I will set aside N2bilion and use it to procure equipment to engage in mechanized agriculture,” he added to enable the state live her name.
The governoship hopeful who is optiminstic of victory at the polls said his ambition is not a do or did affair. He promised that If there is a free and fair process and delegates are not tempered with and they make their choice which is another person other than him, he will still support the person in the interest of the state.
