Benue 2027: Ex-CBN Management Staff, Andrew Aba Declares Guber Ambition, Unveils Blueprint

By Amos Aar

A former Assistant Manager with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Engr. Andrew Aba, has declared his intention to contest the governorship of Benue State come 2027, promising to prioritize inclusiveness and people-centred leadership, integrity, wealth creation, poverty reduction, job creation and security amongst others. 

Speaking during a media interaction in Makurdi on Friday, Aba said his decision to retire early from banking and venture into politics was driven by a passion to contribute meaningfully to the development of Benue State.

“I took an early retirement in January this year to pursue my business and political ambitions. My goal is to use my experience and creativity to uplift the living standards of our people. I have not contested for any political office before now, but I have my focus on the governorship, because I know that people's callings, grace and abilities differs even as I consider every political office relevant for development purposes. I'm not here for trivial party games. I'm not going to sell my mandate for money. I have been in a position to enrich myself but I have not been consumed by money,” the former banking management staff stated.

Aba, who hails from Owukpa, in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the State and holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, has a professional experience spanning over 18 years in the banking sector, rising from a graduate assistant at Zenith bank before earning an appointment as an Assistant Manager at the CBN. He noted that despite not practicing in his core field of academic study, his passion for construction has seen him execute more than 300 housing projects over the last 15 years, most of them using stabilized earth bricks.

“I love building, not just houses, but human capacity. I have always believed in empowering people, even those I don’t know personally. That is what gives me fulfillment.”

He explained that his decision to join the race was informed by his conviction that poverty and sycophancy had become entrenched in Benue’s political culture, leaving many citizens dependent on political patronage for survival. “Poverty has been weaponized, and most people now survive on praise-singing to leaders. I want to change that. My calling is to serve at a level where I can make meaningful impact,” Aba said.

The former banker recounted his community development efforts in Makurdi, including interventions in security and electricity improvement in New G.R.A, where he once served as chairman of the residents’ association. According to him, his efforts helped curb armed robbery incidents in the area and his collaboration with the electricity company significantly improved power supply in the area. He described his leadership philosophy as one rooted in faith, service, and integrity. “If it were about money, I should have been rich long ago. But I have chosen dignity over wealth. My drive is to make Benue a place where honesty, competence, and compassion thrive,” he said.

On how he would break the jinx to become the first person from Zone C to govern Benue since the creation of the state in 1976, despite the numerical strength of the Tiv as the majority, Aba said: "there's no way I will get power as an Idoma person without the cooperation, support and collaboration of the Tiv people especially those in high places. My intention is to work with the Tiv people at the high places, as well as the grassroots., both are critical" he said promising to run an all-inclusive administration that would also accommodate non-indigenes with capacity to deliver.

In the area of security, Aba said his administration would collaborate with the Office of the National Security Adviser in order to deploy drones for surveillance, monitoring of hotspots and tracking of criminal elements promising to leverage on technology with security agencies to tackle insecurity headlong. He cited an example of what 100 units of drones operated by specially trained security unit in partnership with the police and other security agencies can do in securing the state expressing his readiness to invest in available technology in the security sector. He also pledged to strengthen and enforce the implementation of the anti-open grazing law and ensure the quick dispensation of justice against violators of the law.

Among other things, he said he would create a Due Diligence Office, DDO through a bill he would send to the State House of Assembly to give such an office a legal backing for effectiveness. This office he vowed would end what he described as "unaccounted spending” in the state." He explained that the least staff of the office would earn highly attractive remuneration to discourage them from being compromised and to ensure their dedication. 

Andrew Aba indicated his plans to unveil a comprehensive action plan to tap into the vast potentials of ICT. This, he stated, would ensure the energy and creativity of youths are properly harnessed and channel towards acquiring skills in ICT and AI sectors promising to establish a technology hub that would host a collection of ICT businesses in specially designated area of Makurdi.

He also revealed plans on providing soft loans and grants to ICT entrepreneurs with creative business plans to actualize their dreams, thereby creating more jobs. 

On sports, especially the state owned Lobi Stars FC, he revealed his intention to bring on board talents from the grassroot and across the African region as well as South America in order to boost the fortunes of the Club while reorganizing its management and technical structure to be more business-like as it obtains in other competitive leagues across the globe while entering into partnership with investors and sponsors for the Club and other sports notably across secondary schools.  

On how he plans to raise funds to increase the minimum wage of workers to meet present economic realities and fulfill other financial promises, Aba said he would achieve that through the Due Diligence Office, which would close financial leakages and save huge sums for Benue State and also overhaul the revenue generating agencies in the state to improve the Internally Generated Revenue profile of the state while streamlining the procurement processes in his administration to ensure transparency, cost cutting and value for government contracts. The Guber hopeful called on Benue citizens to join him in building what he described as “a peaceful and happy era of leadership” anchored on accountability, service, and shared prosperity and "Building a Benue for All".

Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Edwin Ogenyi, a close associate of the aspirant who presented him to the media executives described Aba as “one of the most seasoned professionals in the state and a man with impeccable character with an unblemished record.”Ogenyi noted that Aba’s decision to resign from a successful banking career for politics demonstrates courage, selflessness and sincerity of purpose.