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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, has pledged to adopt a different approach to tackling insecurity and ensure displaced residents return safely to their ancestral homes, describing their continued stay in camps as demeaning.
Shija, who spoke during an interactive session with journalists at his Makurdi residence on Tuesday, said his administration would prioritise the protection of lives and property, secure farming communities and address the attacks that had forced residents into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
“When I come in, the camps will be closed immediately. It is demeaning caging the people in one place and giving them food,” he said.
He argued that restoring security in affected communities would provide a lasting solution to displacement and enable residents to rebuild their lives, instead of remaining indefinitely in temporary shelters.
Outlining his agenda on security, governance, agriculture, infrastructure and economic development, Shija criticised Governor Alia’s handling of insecurity, alleging that the administration had downplayed the scale of attacks in the state.
“I will do exactly the opposite of what Alia is doing. I will not deny that there is genocide in Benue. Alia is saying there is peace in Benue, that there are only little skirmishes. I will not do that. I will do the things they are not doing,” he said.
Shija promised to deploy technology alongside kinetic and non-kinetic measures to protect communities and confront those responsible for the attacks.
“Secondly, I will rescue this land from the hands of the invaders. I’m not going to take permission from anybody. I’m interested in facing security squarely,” he said.
Referring to an attack last year in which he said 271 people were killed in one night, Shija said a tragedy of that magnitude would prompt him, as governor, to draw global attention to the state’s security crisis.
He said his approach would focus on protecting rural communities, securing farmlands and restoring confidence among residents whose livelihoods had been disrupted by insecurity.
According to him, the safe return of displaced farmers would allow them to resume agricultural production, strengthen food security and contribute to the state’s economic recovery.
On governance, Shija pledged financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary, saying the three arms of government should perform their constitutional responsibilities without interference.
He also promised to ensure that local government councils received their allocations in full and had the freedom to identify and execute projects that addressed the needs of their communities.
Shija said council funds should support essential services and development projects, warning that local government chairmen who misappropriated public money would face prosecution.
“If I come in as governor, all local governments would have their money to the last kobo,” he said.
“We would charge you to court and, if you are found guilty, we will send you to jail.”
