The Deputy Governor of Benue state, Mr. Benson Abounu, has disclosed that he has ambition to run for the number one seat come 2023.
He, however, stated that three factors will determine whether he will run for the election or not.
Mr. Abounu made this disclosure on Thursday, when he received, on a courtesy visit, member of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue State Council.
He said the factors include God, his boss, Governor Samuel Ortom, and the people of the state.
Abounu said he has the prerequisite experience having been on the political landscape of the State for a long time, adding that he had contested last in 1991.
The deputy Governor who explained that only God makes one a leader said “Experience has shown me that as a Deputy Governor, God must first approve my decision to contest election because as my boss will always quote John 3:27 “A man cannot receive even one thing except it is given him from Heaven.
“Since then, this scripture, John 3:27 always rings in my head. So, God’s approval, my principal’s support and the support of the Benue people is what I need before I can contest election.
“I have never lobbied for anything in my life. Not even the position of the Deputy Governor in 2015 and 2019.”
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According to him, for any Idoma man to become the governor of the State because of our numerical deficiency, you must get support of the Tiv people who are the largest in number.
“If the Tiv people make up their mind and comprehensively agree that this is the time to have an Idoma Governor, then it will be. There is a wind in the air that maybe the time has come for Idoma Governor in 2023. If that is the case, I will run”, he said.
Abounu said Benue State government has had a very cordial relationship with the press in the state whom he noted has done their job well by being professionally fair and very objective in their reportage.
“The press in Benue have also expressed their love for state by the relationship they have had with government over the last six years through the professional coordination of the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.”
He, therefore, pledged to continue to support journalists and free press in Benue state.