From Msughsgima Andrew, Makurdi
Ahead of the March 9th Governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Benue Coalition of Business and Professional Associations, (BENCOBPA), has organized an election debate for governorship candidates in the state.
According to one of the moderators, Gloria Thomas, seven guber candidates were invited but only four, the governorship candiates of Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) Comrade Richard Gbawuan, Sam Abba of the United Progressive Party, (UPP), Barr. Innocent Dagba of Peoples Trust Party, (PTP) and Dr Paul Angya of the Labour Party, (LP) participated in the debate.
Meanwhile, the governorship Candidates of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) Emmanuel Jime, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Samuel Ortom and that of Peoples Redemption Party, Revd Frederick Ikyaan, were absent.
At a debate which was organinzed by BENCOBPA in conjunction with Center for International Private Enterprise, (CIPE), USA and the Nigerian Election Debate Group, (NEDG) in Makurdi, the governorship candidates unanimously endorsed the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 of the Benue as panacea to farmers/herders clashes in the state.
The four governorship candidates vowed to uphold the law, establish model ranches and make some reviews that would reposition the law to be more friendly, while adopting modern security trends that would restore lasting peace in the state.
The candidate of the UPP, Mr Sam Abah promised to review the law by building up ranches to accommodate cattles of all tribes to demonstrate to all that the law is not against the fulanis or any other group.
They individaully pledged to reposition the health and education sector through a robust reward system that will encourage teachers, attract and keep specialists at the state hospitals.
They equally promised to implement the N30,000 national minimum wage for all workers in Benue.
The Labour Party candidate, Dr Paul Angya however noted that N30,000 was not even enough to feed a family for one week. He promised to improve the welfare of workers in the state saying if elected governor come 9th of March 2019, he will pay living wages rather than minimum wage.
Dr Angya decried tribal considerations as the basis for electing people into office in Benue, especially the position of governor, appealed that Benue should eschew tribal sentiments acend stand with one another to elect credible leaders for quality service delivery. He also promised to give women a significant place in his government.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Trust Party, (PTP) Dr Innocent Dagba vowed to declare a state of emergency in education sector by partnering with education prone international agencies to attract grants an other incentives that will revive the fallen standards in education in the state.
Also speaking, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party,(ZLP), Richard Gbawuan promised women a 40% affirmative representation in his government if elected among other promises.
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