By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, has revealed that the 2023 election is a battle for the soul of Benue State.
Alia said this while addressing a mammoth crowd at the flagoff of his campaign in Gboko, Local Government Area of the State, saying that a win for the APC is intended to give a new lease of life to the State.
He assured the people that he cannot afford to fail the people of Benue and Senator George Akume and told the people of the State to have confidence in his ability to steer the State to its desired destination.
According to him, “This election is about the life of Benue and if anything unseemingly happens in 2023 and nothing will happen; we need to fix Benue because there is no one to fix it and those that are yet to join us (APC) should come and join us.
“Today, we decamped people from PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), Labour Party, APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance), and ANPP (All Nigeria Peoples Party) and the total number of decampees we have is about 2,306 people who have come to join us.”
The APC governorship candidate further stated that, “We cannot afford to fail Benue, we cannot afford to fail him (Akume) because he represents development and Benue and we cannot disappoint him.
“With this first eleven of mine (national and state assembly candidates), those that play ball and score goals and we will win and end the game before it’s noon day.
“And as I embark on this journey of governance, I will take it personal with anyone that attempts to distract me and with all the three Senators, 11 candidates of the House of Representatives and candidates of the State House of Assembly nothing will be lost. We cannot afford to lose,” he stressed.
Alia told the people of the State that, “I want you to have confidence in me and all the ones here; if it were not legitimate, I wouldn’t stick out my neck here. Everything you see is real; APC is real, APC is for development, APC is for our families, APC is for Benue and APC in Benue is for Alia.
“We cannot take this trust you are giving us for granted; each time I speak to you, each time I see you, I’m excited because I have accepted to help us deliver Benue from the terrible shape it is. We have accepted that we endeavor to help and deliver Benue.
“This is your time, this is your moment, this is your victor,” he stated.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume noted that “Benue has suffered so much and it’s time for us to make a difference.
“Don’t say you have made it; don’t allow anyone blindfolded you, collect your PVC; it is your power to vote Alia to government house and vote other candidates of the party.
“If we don’t vote for Tinubu and we vote for Alia, there will be a very big gap and we will have a lot of problems in Benue State. Alia will require the support of Abuja to be able to tackle the problems of Benue State,” he argued.