Benue South: Olofu Promises Democratic Dividends Across District, Prioritises Youth and Women Empowerment

From Dooshima Hir, Makurdi

A leading contender for the 2027 Benue South Senatorial District election, Dr. David Olofu, has pledged to attract democratic dividends to every part of the district if entrusted with the mandate.

Olofu made this promise on Sunday during his ongoing consultation with critical stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Ohimini Local Government Area chapter.

The senatorial hopeful assured that he would not discriminate in his pursuit of accelerated development for the Benue South Senatorial District, adding that youths and women would play a central role in his empowerment programmes.

“I will ensure that proper institutional frameworks are put in place to generate adequate job opportunities for young people to pursue their dreams of living meaningful lives. Our youths and women are very intelligent and hard-working but lack opportunities to explore their God-given talents,” he said.

Olofu reiterated that he would not disappoint the people if given the mandate, saying, “You will all enjoy my representation as I will, together with you, attract development projects to uplift and extricate us from the clutches of poverty and underdevelopment.”

He further revealed plans to declare a state of emergency on the accelerated development of the entire Benue South Senatorial District by establishing pressure groups—the Benue South People’s Assembly and the Benue South People’s Council—to champion the advancement of the district.

In their separate remarks, Elder Statesman Chief Nicholas Ochojila, Francis Elaigwu, and Odeh Ubah all endorsed Dr. Olofu’s aspiration. They argued that since the Otukpo/Ohimini and Okpokwu/Ogbadibo/Ado Federal Constituencies had dominated the senatorial seat, it should, for equity, fairness, and justice, shift to the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in 2027.

According to them, zoning the position to Apa/Agatu would not only promote inclusivity but also strengthen unity, oneness, and love, while giving hope to Igede people that the senatorial seat would move to their area after Apa/Agatu.

Also speaking, former Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sule Audu, pledged that the people of Ohimini LGA would work towards electing Dr. Olofu and entrenching the ADC in the political landscape.

Earlier, the senatorial aspirant had visited the Anwule-Oglewu community, recently attacked by suspected murderous herdsmen, to commiserate with the residents. He donated an undisclosed sum to the community leadership to cushion the impact of the attacks and promised to mobilise prominent Idoma sons and daughters to pressure the Federal Government to end what he described as existential threats to the Idoma Nation.

“We are Nigerians and therefore deserve to be protected by the Federal Government. The continuous killings of our defenceless people by herdsmen should be condemned by all men of good conscience, including the Federal Government. It is the duty of the Federal Government to protect us, and they must protect us,” he said.

Community leaders—Mathias Cyprian, William Ogah, Onoja Adakole, and John Odeh (Youth Leader)—all