A former Governorship aspirant in Benue State, Godwin Ityoachimin on Saturday said, he will again contest for the number one seat in the state in 2027, to help liberate the people from hardship, poverty, and economic retrogression.
Ityoachimin who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wih a campaign of ‘Fresh Voice for greater Benue’ in 2023, spoke to journalists in Abuja, noting that he was well prepared to lead the state and propel its people to economic prosperity.
The retired Director, Estate Surveyor, and Valuer declared that if elected as Governor in 2027, he would immediately embark on a comprehensive urban renewal of major towns in Benue, including Makurdi the capital, Gboko, and Otukpo to put the state on a global map as an infrastructure destination.
Ityoachimin interacted with members of the Conference of Benue Journalists, (CBJ), an umbrella body for practicing Journalists of Benue origin.
According to the Estate Surveyor, Benue has great potential in the built sector, which when exploited, would contribute significantly to the overall development of the state.
The retired Director from the Federal Ministry of Works said, that Benue state will be 50 years old by next year February but the ‘food basket’ remains backward in the area of housing infrastructure.
“By February next year, Benue will be 50 years since creation and what you see does not reflect what it should be. I intend to transform the state physically, educationally, and otherwise.”
Speaking on Agriculture, the governorship hopeful said Benue urgently needs a system that encourages value addition to products through the establishment of a cottage industry.
He said with cottage industries, the state can process abundant fresh fruits, perishable crops, and essential products for value addition and to encourage farming, which is the mainstay of the people.
“We need an agriculture system where the state government can even buy off farm produce from the farmers and sell to industries.
“There is a need to establish cottage industries to mop farm produce to cut down wastage. It can be done locally by mopping up the tomato water and putting it in refrigerators or selling to hotels etc,” he noted.
The Estate Surveyor said some schools should be made science-based to promote technology-based education in the state for transformation.
Ityoachimin stressed that Benue had talented citizens whose ingenuity could be harnessed for the growth of the state.
On insecurity, the 2023 governorship aspirant said state police could help in addressing some of the challenges faced in the state.
He also emphasized the need for inclusive governance to accommodate the diverse groups of the state.
The prospective governorship aspirant insisted that four years was enough for him to make a difference if elected in 2027.
He cited many of the reforms achieved by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in just four years, including the creation of EFCC, BPE, BPP, and telecommunications between 1999 and 2003.
“I am hoping to run for a single one-term of four years, but I have a clear vision to deliver on a blueprint that I have developed since 2023,” Ityoachimin stressed.
