Poor Representation Denied Kwande a Federal Polytechnic - Senatorial Aspirant

One of the aspirants for the Benue North-East Senatorial District, known also "Zone A" has alleged that the Federal Polytechnic earlier sited in Adikpo, Kwande and relocated to Wannune, Tarka Local Government Areas of the state exemplified the highest level of poor representation!

Professor Cephas Tushima who made the allegation said also that he would avoid such terrible leadership failure if people of the district elect him in 2027 to represent them at the National Assembly.

The aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged while briefing journalists at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat for Benue State in Makurdi. 

Tushima who suspected poor representation as accountable for loss of the institution said "to the good people of Zone A, the question before us as 2027 approaches is simple but profound: what qualifies a man to lead us?" He asked "is it the number of years spent in office or results delivered to the people?"

Professor Tushima continued "for too long, we have been told to equate longevity with performance. But experience tells a different story. There have been those who occupied positions of power for decades, yet when it mattered most, our interests were not defended."

The aspirant lamented "we cannot forget how a federal polytechnic sited in Kwande Local Government Area was relocated elsewhere without the resistance such a critical development deserved!" 

The senatorial hopeful who stated that he has not just presented himself for the political position but fully prepared to perform and bring effectively the needed dividends of democracy for people of the district to enjoy said "my people of Zone A, this is why I say to you,: longevity without impact is not leadership."

He cautioned "we must refuse to mortgage our future on recycled promises. The time has come to choose capacity over complacency, performance over presence, and courage over convenience."

Professor Tushima disclosed equally that he has not been unaware of challenges of the senatorial district with respect particularly to "the security of life and property, improved infrastructure, quality education, economic empowerment and a strong voice at the national level."

The aspirant added "my background in advocacy, policy design, administration and corporate governance equips me to engage the demands of national leadership and deliver meaningful results for our people." 

Making clarifications on his knowledge of the concerns for security in the senatorial district, the aspirant disclosed that, where foreign interests were involved in the mining of solid minerals, they fueled the security concerns.

According to him, in Benue State for example where the mining of solid minerals began in Guma Local Council Area, suspensions were made of foreigners instigating the insecurity to access the large portions of natural resources and that the same experience repeated in Logo Local Area Council of the State justified similar suspicions of the ugly security challenges in Kwande Local Government Area of the state.

Based on the development, he undertook to collaborate with the government in the state to establish a factory to process the raw mineral resources into quality finished products for value addition similar to what the government of Nasarawa State has done. 

Tushima explained that the State Government has established the "Delta Prospectors" for processing raw sold minerals into the finished products not just to add value but also limit the security related issues of mining for people of the state.

Assuring of greater synergy with the State Governor for enhancing good governance and overall development, the multidisciplinary Professor acknowledged his perspective from the diverse backgrounds and said, it was necessary to "address the complex challenges of governance" if people of the district elected him for the job as Senator, Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2027.