“Benue SWEALTH Template”: Akase Unveils 2023 Manifestos
Official Unveiling of the campaign office as Mr & Mrs Terver Akase shows a joyous mood
By Prosper Okoye –
Former Chief Press Secretary to governor Samuel Ortom, and a people’s Democratic Party 2023 Benue state gubernatorial aspirant, Terver Akase, on Friday, unveiled his election manifestos, of which he says, “are people oriented, and will succeed through public and private sectors partnership.
Terver Akase addressing supporters during the office Unveiling.
As he was part of the Ortom’s administration for about 6 years, the candidacy of Mr. Akasi faces critical reviews, – no less than other contestants though – as the state faces daunting economic and security challenges.
These criticisms, Mr. Terve Akase, has stood up to, as he marshalled out his blueprint on how to go about curbing the challenges plaguing the state, at his campaign office, located at George Akume Way, Makurdi.
“I speak to you with a heart full of optimism for the good that is to come in our future,” he called out to his praising crowd of supporters.
“Our Vision and Mission are written in the ‘Benue SWEALTH Template’, which is the cardinal pillars that will guide our administration, to drive the implementation of the vision for the common good of the Benue people.”
According to him, the word SWEALTH, is an acronym for: ” S -stands for Security. W – stands for Wealth and Job creation. E – stands for Education, A – stands for Agriculture and Economy. L – stands for Land Reforms and Infrastructure. T – stands for technology. And the H – stands for Health.”
Director General Terver Akase campaign Organization Engr. Terhide Utaan addressing the the teaming crowd.
He further elaborated on how to go about achieving these visions if given the mandate to become governor in 2023.
Below is a paraphrase of his words on how he intends to achieve these visions.
Security:
_ Prioritize the security of lives and property to guarantee a peaceful and secure state for development to thrive.
_ Develop and implement a Benue state security policy and strategy, in consultation with experts and other relevant stakeholders.
_Reinforce the Benue state volunteer guard to compliment the conventional security agencies.
_Strengthen border security, by establishing a border watch network, in collaboration with neighbouring states.
_provision of patrol vans and other security surveillance kits to aid security operatives.
_ Take proactive steps to curbing human trafficking activities in the state. By setting up a special task force to tackle this social menace.
_Sustaining and upholding the Open Grazing law and other relevant security laws, to prevent the invasion of armed herds men
Persons with Disability (PWD) present during the office Unveiling
Wealth And Job Creation:
_ Achieve wealth and job creation for Benue Youths, through harnessing the opportunities in Information Communication Technology.
_ Establish a state ICT agency to drive the state ICT policies.
_ Provide ICT skills through trainings
_ Collaborate with network providers to strengthen network connectivity in the state.
_ Create a frame work for employment, and encourage private sectors to.employ more youths.
_Relax conditions for acquiring startup loans.
A faithful woman political stakeholder acknowledging the sterling qualities of Mr Akase.
Education:
_ Investment in education.
_ provision of educational infrastructures for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
_ Employment, timely promotion and payment of teachers in order to motive them.
_ Student entrepreneurship loans, and the revival of the state bursary fund.
_Establishing of additional libraries in senatorial district levels and in local government levels.
Agriculture and Economy:
_ Create numerous opportunities in the agriculture value chain.
_ Provide direct agriculture intervention, and strengthen collaboration with private sectors.
_ Increase food production, through fertilization subsidies, mechanization aids and improved input delivery. Establish earth dams and other irrigation facility to aid dry season farming. Engage in large scale cultivation in some parts of the state.
_ Partnership with private agricultural sectors, to establish and integrate green houses in the three senatorial zones.
_Training of farmers and introduction of agricultural subjects in schools to motivate agricultural practices.
_ Improve live stock farming. Through the introduction of public and private partnership in producing live stock feeds
_ promoting agro-allied industries, to harness the raw materials in the state.
_ Repositioning the BIPC to carryout investment promotion, that can attract investment and support in the agriculture sector.
_ Provide a farm produce Marketing Agency that would ensure the fair trade of farm produce
_ Restructuring the BIRS revenue collection to become more tax payer friendly.
Land reform and Infrastructure:
_ Embark on modern method of land administration and urbanization in the state, by maximizing the computerization and optimization of the geo-spatial business process in the state, through the Benue state geographic information service (BENGIS).
_ Develop an urban development policy along the lines of the national urban development policy.
_ Embark on the beautification of the Benue state capital and other towns. And the installation of street night lights and traffick lights.
_ Reviews urban development laws.
_ Create a state infrastructure development plan. Establish a Benue state road maintenance agency .
_ Build a flyover at Wurukum area to de-congest the traffick at that area.
Technology:
_ Deploy technology in every sector of governance .
_ Introduce the study of computer in all state primary and secondary schools.
_ Introduce the faculty of Engineering at the Benue state University.
_ Establish a digital innovation hub in Makurdi.
Health:
_ Free treatment of women, children, and the elderly in primary health centers in the state.
_ Reduction of child and maternal mortality.
_ Provide fully functional health centres in every ward in the state.
_ Upgrade the general hospitals and support the Benue state teaching hospital with funds to acquire modern health equipments.
_ Support the accreditation of course in the college of health science at the Benue state University.
_ Facilitate the creation of faculty of pharmacy at the state University.
_ Establishment of a dialysis center in Makurdi and in other three senatorial zones.
_ Strengthen the Benue state Health Insurance Scheme.
Mr. Akase also pledged to anchor his governance approach on these manifestos.
