The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Benue state, Dr. Stephen Hwande says he will synergise with former governors of the state to fix Benue if elected Governor in 2019.
Hwande stated this on Friday while speaking to newsmen after a meeting of all SDP candidates at the party secretariat in Makurdi.
The guber candidate who told journalists that he was new in politics said there was need for Benue leaders, past and present, to come together for the good of the state.
“I am a virgin politician. I have not offended anyone and no one has offended me. When elected come 2019, I will work with Gov. Ortom, former governors Gabriel Suswan and George Akume to fix the state,” he said.
Hwande rolled out an eight point agenda that would rid the state of underdevelopment and place her on the paths of steady rise.
In the document which he christened “Benue Arise: A Four Year Revival Plan,” the guber hopeful said his vision was to prioritise economic recovery, security, Agriculture, Health, Industry, Education, Youth and Women Development, as well as Rural and Urban infrastructural development to drive home his four year recovery plan.
He promised to unite the people of the state irrespective of political affiliations for total transformation and security of lives and properties.
The SDP guber candidate said he would adopt dialogue, peaceful but not confrontational approaches to cement a friendly relationship between the Federal Government and Benue State to enhance unhindered attractions of Federal projects that would have direct bearing on the people.
“We will unite the people for development and focus on the security of lives and property. We are one people, united, with a common destiny, purpose and together we shall achieve great things like transparency in governance, grow Internally Generated Revenue and create enabling environment for private sector to thrive, create autonomy in the local governments,” he said.
Hwande said as a doctor, he has distinguished himself in the area of health as evident in his establishment of the First Fertility Hospital in Makurdi and Vision Hospital in Agasha.
He also pledged to apply maximum pressure to actualise the University of Medicine in Otobi as earlier promised by the federal government.
READ ALSO: Army arrests notorious gun runner in Bargu
The SDP candidate said the period of making promises to the people without fulfilling it was over and urged Benue electorates to ask anyone seeking their mandate to display past antecedents that have affected the people.
He expressed confidence in the supremacy of his party and in the support of the Benue people to clinch victory at the polls.
Earlier, the SDP Chairman in Benue, John Enemari called on their candidates and supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner as they go into electioneering campaigns.
