The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue state, Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, on Monday pledged to prioritise security, rural development and local government [...]
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue state, Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, on Monday pledged to prioritise security, rural development and local government autonomy if elected governor in 2027.
Aondoakaa made the promise in an interaction with newsmen in Makurdi, where he said consultations across the state had convinced him that insecurity and the collapse of rural infrastructure were among the major challenges confronting the people.
He said poor roads and collapsed bridges had hampered the ability of security agencies to respond rapidly to attacks, while also affecting agriculture and the movement of farm produce from rural communities.
The former Attorney-General of the Federation said his administration would allow local governments to manage their statutory funds directly, while the state government would provide supervision rather than micromanage their affairs.
Aondoakaa also promised to block financial leakages and reduce unnecessary government expenditure through greater transparency, proper costing of projects and direct application of funds.
He criticised what he described as the concentration of government projects in major cities, saying development must be taken to rural communities to address the needs of the majority of the state’s population.
On ranching, the PDP candidate said livestock businesses would be allowed in Benue provided operators complied with state and federal laws, including land, environmental and quarantine regulations.
He further promised to establish a revolving N2 billion interest-free student loan scheme for young people, particularly those from areas affected by insecurity, to enable them to complete their education and repay the loans after securing employment.
Aondoakaa said he would promote cottage industries, local processing of minerals and agricultural produce, and youth participation in farming and market security as part of his strategy to create jobs, strengthen the economy and make Benue a major producer of what he described as “green oil”.
