…expresses confidence PDP will win governorship election
By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has identified security, rural infrastructure and agriculture as key priorities of his agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Aondoakaa, who spoke with journalists at his residence in Makurdi ahead of the commencement of campaigns, expressed concern over the condition of rural infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, saying their deterioration had affected security, agriculture and economic activities across the state.
He described insecurity as one of the biggest challenges facing Benue, arguing that poor rural road networks often make it difficult for security agencies to respond swiftly to attacks and emergencies.
According to him, with agriculture providing livelihoods for a significant proportion of Benue residents, improving rural roads would also facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce and stimulate economic activities.
Aondoakaa said his administration, if elected, would ensure that rural roads were made motorable even where immediate asphalt construction was not financially feasible.
Advocates Local Government Autonomy
The PDP candidate also backed financial and administrative autonomy for Benue’s 23 local government councils, saying they should directly receive and manage their statutory allocations.
He criticised the concentration of local government funds under state structures, arguing that councils should be empowered to execute rural roads and other community-based projects, while the state provides technical support, supervision and oversight.
Aondoakaa proposed the deployment of technology, including GPS coordinates, to monitor projects executed by local governments and improve accountability.
He also advocated regular joint security meetings involving local government chairmen, Divisional Police Officers and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen intelligence gathering and security coordination at the grassroots.
Pledges to Tackle Financial Leakages
On public finance, Aondoakaa said tackling financial leakages would be a priority of his administration.
He identified contract inflation, over-invoicing, poor project costing and excessive government overheads as areas requiring greater scrutiny.
According to him, government contracts should be properly costed by professionals, while unnecessary expenditure should be reduced to free resources for security, rural roads, agriculture, healthcare, education, water supply and other essential services.
Aondoakaa also criticised what he described as the concentration of development projects in Makurdi and a few urban centres at the expense of rural communities.
He argued that infrastructure spending should be spread across the state, particularly to communities that contribute significantly to Benue’s agricultural economy.
He also proposed increased investment in water infrastructure capable of serving Makurdi, Benue State University, the teaching hospital and surrounding communities.
Aondoakaa Confident PDP Can Win in 2027
Speaking on the 2027 governorship election, Aondoakaa expressed confidence that the PDP could defeat the incumbent administration.
He said accessibility and direct engagement with communities would be critical to winning voters’ confidence.
According to him, a second term is not automatically guaranteed to any governor but must be secured through the mandate of the electorate.
Vows to Enforce Anti-Open Grazing Law
On livestock management, Aondoakaa said he would enforce Benue State’s law prohibiting open grazing while allowing lawful private ranching.
He maintained that livestock owners operating in the state must comply with relevant state and federal laws, including regulations on land use, quarantine and environmental protection.
He said anyone seeking to establish a ranch must have lawful ownership or lease of the land and provide facilities such as water and feed without encroaching on farms or damaging the environment.
Aondoakaa stressed that Benue would remain open to legitimate businesses and peaceful coexistence but would not permit the unauthorised use of people’s land.
Proposes Scholarship Loan Scheme
On education, Aondoakaa proposed a $2 billion interest-free scholarship loan scheme for Benue students, particularly those from communities affected by insecurity and families whose agricultural livelihoods had been disrupted.
Under the proposal, beneficiaries would receive financial support for their education and begin repayment after securing employment.
He said technology would be deployed to track beneficiaries and facilitate repayment, recalling that he personally benefited from a scholarship when his family could not afford the cost of his university education.
Seeks Local Processing of Benue Minerals
Aondoakaa also outlined plans to address illegal mining and increase the economic benefits derived from Benue’s mineral resources.
He advocated a shift from transporting raw minerals outside the state to establishing cottage and semi-processing industries around mining communities.
According to him, processing minerals locally would create jobs, increase revenue and allow host communities to derive greater economic benefits from the state’s mineral resources.
Agriculture Remains Benue’s ‘Green Oil’
The former Attorney-General of the Federation rejected the suggestion that mining should replace agriculture as Benue’s major economic driver.
He described agricultural commodities such as groundnut, sesame, soybean and cashew as the state’s “green oil”, saying value addition through processing could generate substantial revenue and employment.
Rather than depending solely on large industrial projects, Aondoakaa advocated private sector-driven cottage industries capable of employing small groups of workers while operating with relatively modest energy requirements.
He also proposed using agriculture as a tool for youth empowerment and reducing insecurity.
Under the plan, government would support young farmers with cleared farmland, seeds, herbicides and soft loans while organising them into productive agricultural groups.
Aondoakaa argued that providing sustainable livelihoods for young people could reduce their vulnerability to recruitment into criminal activities.
Plans Revival of Rural Markets
The PDP candidate also pledged to revive markets affected by insecurity, including Zaki-Biam in Ukum Local Government Area and other major agricultural markets across the state.
He claimed that some markets which previously received between 200 and 250 trucks daily had seen traffic decline to about 15 to 20 trucks because of insecurity.
Aondoakaa proposed working with security agencies and market monitors to protect traders, buyers and transporters, promote electronic payments and restore commercial confidence.
He said his broader development agenda would integrate security, rural infrastructure, agriculture, local government autonomy, youth empowerment and prudent management of public resources.
According to him, decentralising development and strengthening rural economies would help create jobs, improve security and ensure communities across Benue receive greater attention from government.
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