Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr. Benson Abounu has expressed joy
that efforts by the state and federal governments at repairing the
“terrible damage done to the fabric of our economy” is beginning to pay
off.
Engr. Abounu who spoke when the leaders of a group, Benue South
Democratic Initiative paid him a solidarity visit at his Makurdi
residence yesterday stated that the prudent and transparent management
of the scarce resources and the reforms put in place by the APC led
administration has led to the phenomenal increase in the monthly
federation revenue allocation from N305.12bn in May to N559.03bn in
June.
He stated that the increased revenue generated by the country even at
a time of growing militancy and low global crude oil prices is a
pointer of what to expect from the APC led government at both the state
and federal government.
He said it is particularly pleasing that the increased revenue came
mainly from the non-oil sector, a situation he described as highly
significant given the problems in the Niger Delta.
Engr. Abounu who told the people that the Samuel Ortom government is
working tirelessly, day and night to bring succour to the Benue people
however lamented the damage done to the state economy by the preceding
government.
He disclosed that the economic situation in Benue state is worse than
most states because of the roguish administration that held sway for
many years, bleeding the state to a hapless situation.
Engr. Abounu thanked the group for coming to identify with him but
called on them to reach out to other grassroots politicians in Benue
South senatorial district and to accord the party leadership due
respect, warning that he would not support them or any group whose
activities tend to divide the party.
The deputy governor praised Governor Ortom for his love and
commitment to the Benue cause and the wonderful working relationship he
has with him which has translated to the modest achievements they have
recorded so far.
Speaking earlier, coordinator of the group and former chairman of
Agatu local government council, Michael Inalegwu said they were at his
residence to welcome him back home from his trip abroad where he
delivered a paper “sustainable development of Nigeria in the wake of
dwindling oil revenue; the case of Benue state” at the 2016 Canfield
University Symposia in Bedford, England.
All the speakers among them Moses Enenche, David Egboja, Agbo Uloko,
Donald Agidan, Onma Ogenyi and Isa Usman extolled the virtues of Engr.
Abounu and the gains of the Ortom/Abounu partnership. They pledged their
unalloyed support to his leadership and promised to be the vehicles for
change in Benue South.
Benue South Democratic Initiative is a political grouping of seasoned
grassroots politicians drawn from the 9 local government areas in Benue
South who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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