I won’t depend on Abuja to develop Benue, says governorship aspirant

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant and former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Benue State, John Tondo, has said he will not not to depend on federal allocation to develop the state, if given the mandate to govern in 2019.

The surveyor, while interacting with newsmen in Makurdi at the weekend, maintained that 70 per cent of capital projects would be executed through direct labour.

To check capital flight from the state and have enough money for the welfare of the people, he promised to give priority to indigenous firms in the award of contracts.

His words: “Engineers, technicians and other professionals in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will be trained and re-trained to enable them handle government projects effectively.”

The governorship hopeful also promised to create enabling environment for businesses in the state, by putting in place policies that will attract investors.

While not kicking against the anti-open grazing law enacted by Governor Samuel Ortom, he was not impressed by the way it was implemented.

“If I am made governor, my method of implementation will be different. The law is good, but the way it is being implemented is what is causing crises,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Mustapha Sule-Lamido, has picked the PDP expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the Jigawa Central senatorial district election in 2019.

Jigawa PDP vice chairman, Aminu Jahun, picked the forms on his behalf at Wadata House Abuja on Friday.