- Odibo Victory
The fiscal reforms of President Bola Tinubu will deliver the Benue votes for him during the 2027 general election.
Benue Deputy Governor, Dr Sam Ode, who disclosed this on Thursday in Makurdi, said the reforms had boosted revenues and accelerated transformative development in the state.
Ode also reaffirmed Gov. Hyacinth Alia’s promise that Benue would deliver one million votes for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The deputy governor spoke while leading members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team on an inspection of ongoing federal and state projects across Benue.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team was led by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Ode said Alia’s commitment to deliver one million votes reflected the state government’s confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and the impact of his economic reforms.
According to him, his assignment as deputy governor was to mobilise the State Executive Council, political stakeholders and the people of Benue to actualise Alia’s promise.
Ode said Tinubu’s policies had strengthened fiscal federalism by ensuring that more resources reached sub-national governments for infrastructure, social services and economic development.
He said governors who were prudent and accountable now had the opportunity to translate increased allocations into projects that directly improved the lives of their people.
He described Alia as one of such leaders, saying the Benue governor had managed public resources with prudence, discipline and transparency since assuming office.
Ode said the prudent management of increased revenues was evident in the numerous infrastructure and economic projects spread across the state, which he said were transforming communities and improving public confidence.
He argued that Benue people could clearly see the benefits of Tinubu’s reforms through projects delivered by the Alia administration, making support for the President a natural political outcome.
Responding to questions on increased allocations, Ode said the gains recorded by states extended beyond fuel subsidy removal and reflected Tinubu’s broader commitment to democratic governance.
He recalled that Tinubu had recorded remarkable achievements as Governor of Lagos State long before the removal of fuel subsidy, describing the President as a leader driven by patriotism and concern for the welfare of the people.
The deputy governor showcased the ongoing dualisation from the Wurukum Overhead Bridge to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Estate as one of Benue’s landmark infrastructure projects.
He explained that the dual carriageway stretched about 20 kilometres in one direction, with a bridge under construction to complete the strategic corridor linking key parts of Makurdi.
According to him, the project would improve transportation, facilitate commerce and strengthen connectivity while complementing other infrastructure investments across the state.
Ode said the Alia administration was constructing roads, bridges and other facilities to enhance security, agriculture, transportation and overall economic productivity.
He identified some of the ongoing rural road projects as the Obagaji–Okokoro–Agagbe, Awajir (Achohor)–Oju, Zaki-Biam–Afia–Gbeji and Igumale–Agila roads.
He said the projects would improve access to farming communities and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce to markets.
He emphasised that the government was also implementing programmes that directly improved livelihoods instead of concentrating development only within urban centres.
The deputy governor highlighted the revival of Food Basket Breweries Nigeria Limited, saying the once-moribund company had returned to production under Alia’s leadership after more than three decades.
He said the brewery now produced premium lager beer, malt beverages and other products, creating jobs and stimulating economic activities within the state.
Ode also pointed to the establishment of a fruit concentrate factory, explaining that the project would add value to Benue’s agricultural produce and support industrialisation.
He further disclosed that extensive rural road projects were ongoing to ease the movement of farm produce from villages to markets, thereby boosting food production and farmers’ incomes.
Conducting the team on an inspection of the brewery, the Plant Manager, Mr Adoje Emmanuel, said the facility produced Zeva Beer, Zeva Malt and other beverages, with plans to increase its product range to between eight and nine stock-keeping units before the end of the year.
He said the brewery procured sorghum and other raw materials from local farmers through an out-grower scheme managed by the Benue Investment and Property Company and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Emmanuel said the factory employed over 1,000 direct and indirect workers and planned to introduce additional product lines before the end of the year.