Kogiflame
By Simon Obochi
At the start of the time allowed by INEC for candidates to various political offices to begin campaigns, I said i would spend a lot of time listening.That is what I did over the last four years and that is what I did over the past five weeks as well.
Not listening to vested interests. Not listening to billionaires from public tilt trying to buy influence. Not also listening to highly selected focus groups. But listening to ordinary people. Listening to their concerns about education.
Listening to their fears about the future of the state.
Listening to their disillusionment with politicians who break their promises and betray their trust.
Any time from now, I expect a barrage of lies and distortions from the failed two parties that have ruled the state from their high commands,the likes of which we have not seen before. Instead of engaging in honest debate,they would put up thousands of posters,distorting the truth.Instead of confronting voters face to face,they would ring people up,whispering lies our policies down the phone.
After eight years in office of the ruling PDP in the state without anything tangible to show,they instead have got very cosy with all the power-and they are now more frightened than ever of losing their grip on it.And when the ruling party got frightened,they get negative and they get nasty.
Instead of talking about their records,they would fight the most negative,most nasty campaign imaginable.Well,we would not be cowed.The best antidote to this negative tendencies of the ruling party in the state is to fight positively with our programmes for Benue state development.
To make this campaign issue based in the state is a priority of the NNPP in the state so that the Benue people would be proud of because the NNPP in the state knows it has a sacred duty to make this happen.We will keep our words to offer our people a different choice.The investment to give our children the best education and health possible.
Clear, costed commitments to protect and improve the lives of the Benue people.More security men on the beat in the fight against crime.Stability and long-term investment for our people business success.The enabling environment for our people to live out their dreams to their fullest potentials.An open government birthed in the spirit of accountability,we promise to give.
We have heard much about trust in this campaign.But this set of politicians can’t expect to be taken on trust anymore.They have got to earn people trust which already they have abused.This is because trust comes from being straight with people.It comes from being consistent in your principles and policies.
It comes from sums that adds up.Over the last 24years of democracy in our state,the ruling PDP and the APC have proved that they cannot be trusted anymore.They have proved in this state that they are unworthy of our trust.What we in the NNPP.have set out to do in this campaign is to earn our people’s trust.
We are going to do that be sticking to our core values and consistent belief on issue based campaigns. We have produced a costed manifesto.A menu with prices.
And that is why we always listens to the Benue people, when they say they want more control over those that governs them.
That is why we stick to the principle that sovereignty lies with the people and not the elite-and with our consistent policy that makes the people matters.
Surveys after surveys,have shown the popularity of our education and health policies.Why?.Because people now knows that education will be key to our success in years ahead.Our education systems has been underfunded and undervalued for too long.We need to start now.Putting right the damages of the APC and the PDP years,our top priorities.With this hard chioces,we shall make a difference.
We know the will of the Benue people and for that we completely respects them and that is why in this campaign we shall show that we stand by the people.All across the state we shall attempt to be straight with the people by attaching a price tag to our promises.For our people’s health needs, we shall offer clear, costed committments to free health care, to put more doctors and nurses in our hospitals wards and to cut the waiting lists.
In this campaign,we are confident that we have won the arguments.In the next 100days,it is our time to win the GUBERNATORIAL seat through Proffessor Bem Angwe.It is time we go for victory
In this campaign we have a lot of our people disillusioned with the system practice previously by both the PDP and the APC coming to me and saying”I like what your party is doing but I want to be sure my votes count” and my advise to them has been straight forward.
There is only one way to make your vote count,and that is to vote what you believe in If you want new priorities in Benue state,not just politics as usual,then don’t waste your vote Don’t vote for more of the same.Dont be cowed into voting for fear or the money.Vote for the things you believe in.
I said from the beginning that we have less than a 100days to the next election, well I believe it is time for more than a campaign by the NNPP.It is time for a crusade and many may ask what is the difference?.My dear,campaigns are short-term as they are about winning votes.They are about political things, winning an election.Crusades are about beliefs.
They are about the long-term.They are about reaching out beyond politics. Benue state is faced with a start choice. Now,it is time for a crusade. A crusade demanding a new politics.A crusade for a new Benue state.A crusade for new opportunities for our people.
To build a state fit for heroes.
Now,as we prepare to vote in the next election,we need a new crusade-To build a state fit for our children and grandchildren.
A crusade to give them new opportunities and hope.
A crusade to give them the best education possible.
A crusade to give them a health sector they would be proud to rely on. We must vote against those parties that feel safest in the old order of politics as usual.
We must vote the NNPP GUBERNATORIAL candidate because of his charisma, personal character,leadership resource and God fearing personality to lead this crusade as Governor of Benue state in the 2023 election in the state.
If you like believe in this crusade to build a new Benue state for our children and grandchildren, i say “Come join us”to vote the best,vote Professor Bem Angwe,he is our best foot forward.
Simon Obochi
Sec NNPP
Oturkpo LGA
