GWER/GWER WEST HOR 2023: ENGR. NONGO EMERGES APC CANDIDATE, DEDICATES VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE

Great men are measured on their choices of words and actions. As the 2023 General Elections approaches, Engr.Terhemba Nongo has stated his campaign agenda. The former Acting MD NEPZA, says what he can do and why the Gwer block Rotation favours him.

He says he believes that power belongs to the people and the good people of Gwer East and Gwer west have come out to demonstrate this fact.

Engr. Nongo emerges candidate of the party following the expectation of the masses of the constituency, who yearn for positive change.

Hitherto to the primary election, Engr. Nongo released a statement that spoke to the conscience of the people.

Below is the full text of Engr. Nongo’s agenda for Gwer East and Gwer west Constituents, 2023:

 

THE DECISION TO CONTEST

My decision to contest for an elective political position to represent my people isa as a dream and passion I had as a young child, and has being with me for close to 53 years based on the socio-economic development that was done by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the South Western region of Nigeria.

In January 1973 when I reported to Federal Government College, Odogbolu as a form 1 student, I was amazed at the infrastructural development and high standard of living I saw in Odogbolu.

Odogbolu was just a small village that was less in status to Aliade, Katsina Ala, Vandeikya, Adikpo, Okpoga as of then, but it had public electricity, public water supply, tarred streets, a well constructed and equipped primary health centre.

There was also a general hospital at Aiyepe which is about 3 kilometres from Odogbolu that served all the surrounding villages as a referral hospital. As a 13 year old boy, who came from a similar rural area but did not have these facilities, I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to be in “paradise on earth.”

However, at the time I was in form 3, I started asking questions why my local government headquarters, Aliade and other towns and villages in Benue State were not provided with these facilities.

It was then I was told that these infrastructure were provided in most of the towns and villages in the old Western Region by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Premier of Western Nigeria, from 1952 to 1959 using revenues generated from cocoa and other agricultural produce from Western Region.

Chief Awolowo also used the revenue generated from cocoa to build the Cocoa House in Ibadan which is the first skyscraper in Africa, established the first Television station in Africa among others and introduce free education from revenue generated through taxes and levies on agricultural produce.

All through my adult life, I have always reflected on what I saw at Odogbolu, that if it could be done in Western Nigeria with limited resources, it can be done in Benue State using both the state and Federal government resources.

During my twenty five (25) years in the Federal Public Service, I observed that the Tiv nation in general and the Gwer East/ Gwer West Constituency in particular has been shortchanged in employment in the Federal public service, military and Para-military; appointment on Boards of Federal Government Departments and Agencies, location of socio economic projects and provision of infrastructure.

It was this juncture that my dream at participating in improving the socio economic lives of the good people of Benue started. I believe the time to realize this dream is now as “Rotation” which is a mandatory requirement for one to contest and win a political election in Gwer East and Gwer West LGAs favours me for the House of Representative seat. This is however dependent on the good people of Gwer East and Gwest West Federal Constituency supporting my aspiration.

 

THE AGENDA

The responsibilities of Members of House of Representatives are:

.Making Laws

.OversightFunctions

.Lobbying

My Agenda which is based on the above functionsare:

a. Making laws for the security of lives and properties of Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituents.

i. For over ten (10) years, there have been losses of lives in Gwer West and Gwer East LGAs. I will spearhead, lobby House of Representatives Members and Senators to make workable and enforceable laws that will protect the lives and properties of the Federal Constituents.

ii. I will spearhead and lobby other House of Representatives Members to make laws that will improve the living standard of the Federal Constituents in particular and Nigerians in general.

iii. I will spearhead and lobby my colleagues to make laws for the social welfare of unemployed Nigerians, physically challenged and the elderly.

b. Lobbying

The Gwer East and Gwer West Constituency has been shortchanged in the provision of urban and rural infrastructure as well as employment/appointment at the Federal level. To c h a ng e th e narration, I will effectively lobby Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as the leadership of the National for the following:

Provision of Infrastructure

– Corrective and preventive maintenance of Makurdi-Otukpo and Makurdi-Naka-Ankpa Federal roads.

– Provision of all year round portable water to at least one of the following urban/semi urban centres; Aliade, Naka, lkpayongo, Taraku, Agagbe and Aondona during my first tenure.

– Construction of bridges and culverts on rural roads as well as construction of at least one major rural road in both Gwer East and Gwer West LGAs.

– Electrification of rural settlements in both Gwer East and Gwer West LGAs.

-Provision of boreholes and earth dams in both Gwer East and Gwer West LGAs.

-Construction of classrooms and provision of school furniture for both primary and secondary schools in the Federal Constituency.

-Construction and equipment of workshops and Science Laboratories

in secondary, vocational and technical schools in the constituency.

-Construction of computer centres and provision of computers to secondary/technical schools

Employment

The Federal Government has over 500 Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Unfortunately, Gwer East/ Gwer West Federal Constituency has not had its fair share of employment in these agencies. I will ensure that this is reversed.

Gwer East/ Gwer West Constituency has over the years been shortchanged in the appointment of Chief Executives, Chairmen and Board Members of Federal Government Agencies. I will lobby to ensure we get our fair share of these appointments.

Empowerment Programmes

I will in conjunction with the Federal Government, the private sector and NGOs introduce empowerment programmes for communities, youths, women, men and the physically challenged, to assist them take charge of their lives.

c. Construction of Special Economic Zone, Makurdi

This project which I worked with RT. Hon. Emmanuel Jime for President Muhammadu Buhari to approve its establishment is on 514 hectares of land after NASME, North Bank. The Estimated Total Cost of the Project was about N70 Billion in 2019. The project when executed has the capacity to generate 100,000 jobs for the youths, improve the socio-economic development of Benue state. It’s a catalyst for the dredging of River Benue and construction of an international airport in Makurdi. The feasibility studies, Architectural designs, Engineering designs and Environmental Impact Assessment (ELA) for the Zone has been completed and fully paid for. This is the largest ever project to be gotten for Benue State by Benue State indigenes. I will lobby for the commencement of physical development of this economic project.

d. Town hall Meetings

Townhall meetings will be held at least two times a year where I will brief and inform the good people of Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency about the Federal Government programmes and activities, to give account of my representation, to discuss specific upcoming legislation or regulation and to also hear from the good people of the Constituency. The people will be given the opportunity to vote on issues and to propose alternatives. My representation will be all inclusive.

e. Exposure of Gwerr East/Gwer

West Youths nationally and internationally. I will sensitize and assist Gwer East/Gwer West youths to explore employment and other means of livelihood outside Benue State locally and in foreign countries.

f. Sports

In addition to its primary role of physical and mental development of an individual, sports are now an employment generating activity and money spinner. It also projects the image of the state on national and international stages.To achieve this, I will support the Sports Offices in Gwer East and Gwer West Local Government Areas to propagate sports in every primary and secondary school in the Constituency.

.Provide adequate facilities for training, coaching and competition

• Establish a football competition for schools in the Constituency. Arrange for Nigeria Football Federation to watch the finals of the football competition in order to select the talented youths into the national teams.

. Assist the talented youths to look for foreign football clubs, basketball clubs, etc

• Establish awards for sports men and women who win national and international tittles.

 

THE PRINCIPLE OF ROTATION FOR POLITICAL ELECTIVE POSITIONS IN GWER EAST AND GWER WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

The people of Gwer East and Gwer West Local Government Areas are very principled and adhere strictly to theTiv principle of Rotation (“Ya na angbian”) in electing its political representatives and leaders.

Which Local Government Area does the Rotation for 2023 House of Representatives Membership Favour?

From Independence to the first Republic, 1960 to 1966, Gwer East and Gwer West LGAs had a single Federal Constituency known as lharev-Masev.

During the second and third Republic, 1979-1963 and 1992-1993, both Gwer East LGA and Gwer West LGA each had distinct Federal Constituencies.

In 1999, the two seats were merged into a single Federal Constituency, known as the Gwer East/ Gwer West Federal Constituency.

 

THE ROTATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEAT AMONG THE TWO LGAs OF GWER-EAST AND GWER WEST FROM 1960 TO DATE IS AS FOLLOWS:

i. 1960-1966 (6 Years, 3 Months) Hon. Vincent T. Shirsha; Gwer West (Raav)

ii. 1999-2003 (4 years); Chief. Hon. Goddy IKerave: Gwer West LGA (Mbakpa)

iii. 2003-2007 (4 years): Hon. Simon Aondona; Gwer West LGA (Raav)

iv. 2007-2015 (8 years): Hon. Christiana Alaaga; Gwer East LGA (Yonov)

v. 2015-2023 (8 years): Hon. Mark Gbillah; Gwer West LGA (Mbakpa).

From the above, and based on the rotation principle, the seat is to be rotated to Gwer East LGA for the next 8 years, i.e. 2023-2031.

 

ROTATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEAT IN GWER-EAST LGA FROM INDEPENDENCE, 1960-2023

i. 1979 — 1983 (4 years, 3 months): Hon. Kartyo Ugo; Ngyohov (Kyonov).

ii 1992-1993 (11 Months): Hon.Clement Tsetse: Njiriv (lkyogbajir).

III. 2007-2015 (8 years): Hon. Christiana Alaag a; Yonov (Mbaivur)

 

ROTATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEAT IN GWER-WEST LGA FROM INDEPENDENCE,1960-2023

i. 1960-1966 ( 6 years, 3 Months): Hon. Vincent Shirsha, Raav (Gyaluwa)

ii. 1979 — 1983 (4 years, 3 months): Hon. Padopas Awuna; Mbakpa (Kaambe)

iii. 1992-1993 (11 Months): Hon. Atta S. Kwaghtse, Raav (Achamegh)

iv.1999-2003 (4 years): Hon. Goddy Ikerave, Mbakpa (Mbakyondo)

v. 2003-2997 (4 years): Hon. Simon Aondona, Raav (Udam)

vi. 2015-2023 (8 years): Hon. Mark Gbillah, Mbakpa (Senghev).

HOW MASEV PEOPLE IMPLEMENT THE ROTATION PRINCIPLE IN GWER-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

The Masev people of Gwer East LGA rotate elective political offices among the three Clans of Ngyohov, Njiriv and Yonov. Micro zoning is thereafter done independently by the Clans. 2023 will be another opportunity for the people to do the right thing as always.

CONCLUSION

I am available to selflessly serve you, my Good People of Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency. I will put You People, first. This is my covenant with You. Please send me!

God Bless you all.