2027: Orbunde Pledges Global Security Partnership If Elected Governor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Benue State, Terwase Orbunde, has pledged to mobilise grassroots-based and international support to tackle insecurity in the state if elected in 2027.

He pledged during an interactive session with the Kwande Intermediate Area Inter-Party Governorship Advocacy Committee and other stakeholders in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Orbunde, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Samuel Ortom, stated that since the attackers who occupied parts of the state have a network across several countries, only a corresponding superior network would be able to surmount them.

He recalled information given by a former governor of Kaduna State that he took money to pacify bandits in many countries  across Africa, to stress the international nature of the security challenges.

He stated that when he made preliminary contacts on the matter in the buildup to his 2023 governorship bid, Israel, the European Union, and the United States of America indicated interest in assisting.

According to him, “Such assistance could be deployed to tackle internal and external security bedevilling  the State”

The former Chief of Staff appealed to stakeholders from the Kwande Intermediate Area to support his governorship bid, as he believed that through their blessings, he had acquired the necessary experience to be governor.

He listed his experience to include: member of the House of Representatives, local government chairman, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, which allowed him to be a member of the State Security Council for several years, enabling him to be acquainted with what he described as existential security and economic threats facing the state.