The gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Benue State, Prof. Bem Angwe has said his quest for the seat of power in the state is only to salvage the poor living condition of his people and not for wealth or personal gains.
Speaking to his neighborhood elders in his Gboko residence, Angwe stated that his people have suffered enough. Despite living in a valley endowed with precious minerals and fertile land, majority of Benue people can hardly afford a two-square meal in a day.
The human rights activist cited the price of Benue orange as evidence for his assertion that it is more expensive than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Explaining further he said, despite the hike in the cost of a liter of fuel it can not be valuated the same with a glass of fresh orange juice which cost around N500 to N7000 depending where it is being sold. His words reads in part:
“My people, the ordinary Benue person has suffered enough and God prompt me so I’m availing myself to serve in the capacity of the governor where I will have the power to revive the decaying infrastructure, education, economy and agriculture. My government will also alleviate poverty and revive the educational sector and bring back the glory of the Benue land.”
Angwe stressed that, his people were identified by their brilliancy which stood them out in the midst of other tribes in Nigeria. However, due to non-payment of salaries and other entitlements, teachers are not willing to do their jobs which has resulted in exams malpractices and other corrupt practices in the educational sector.
“The government has more resources than the private sector, so why is it that private schools are doing better than public schools? Because government owned schools lacks teachers, some public schools has just a single teacher teaching all the classes and also handling administrative tasks.” Angwe emphasized.
Responding, Bar. Zacharia Dzuave said Prof. Angwe’s antecedents stands him out in the midst of other candidates and they will stand strongly behind him to succeed his aspirations.
Dzuave said, lack of processing industries in the state has also caused a lot of hardship to Benue people especially women who struggle to cultivate tomatoes and other perishable crops but still pay costly to buy a processed tomato sachet. He said;
“We know you better than anyone else because we are your neighbours and your antecedents stands you out in the midst of the other candidates vying for the same position. When elected, you will do better than anyone of them and we will support your aspirations in the forthcoming elections.”
An erstwhile commissioner for information in Benue State and a former Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Hon. Bar. John Tine stressed that, Prof. Bem Angwe is the only hope for a common Benue man. Angwe stands for fairness, equity and justice which is while many of us has decided to wholeheartedly support his candidature for governorship because we know him as a just man who considers the interest of his people more paramount to his personal gain.
Tine pledged to work for the NNPP at the National level and more importantly the emergence of Prof. Bem Angwe as the next governor of Benue State in the forthcoming elections in 2023.
In case you are not aware
Professor Bem Angwe is a professor of Law and an academic of repute who has taught law at the highest level of academic pursuit. He has taught International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law at the University of Jos for 18 years. He served in the capacity of Deputy Dean as well as Head of Department, International Law and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Law, University of Jos, HOD private law department.
As a human rights activist, Prof Bem Angwe was the Secretary General/ Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Legal Rights Advancement. In that capacity, he advocated vigorously for the domestication of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Nigeria leading to the passage of the Child Rights Act at the National Assembly in 2003.
In collaboration with UNICEF, he championed the adoption of the Child Rights Law in Plateau State.
He has attended many human rights courses at the American University, Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa amongst others. He has also participated at many international and national human rights conferences, workshops and seminars both as resource person and as a discussant.
In public service, Prof Angwe has had a distinguished career and served as a Special Adviser to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Angwe was the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria where he is wholly committed and focused on promoting the rights of all classes of Nigerians.
Within one year in office, he has expanded the operational outreach of the Commission from seven to twenty. He also increased the staff strength from 350 to about 500 most of who are working in the outreach offices and rural areas to give the citizenry access to the services of the Commission.
In the area of structural reforms, he has restructured the Commission to efficiently meet the challenges in achieving the mandate of the Commission following the amendment of the Enabling Act of the Commission in 2010.
