Govt Must Intensify Youths Engagement To Tackle Security Challenge In Benue – Amb Abelagi

Amb (Dr) Abelagi Fred was a contestant for the Benue State House of Assembly in the 2023 general elections. In this interview with LEADERSHIP Sunday, he speaks about his passion for his people and why Benue youths should be given more opportunities to govern.

You decided to step down for the current Assembly member representing your zone. Why?

In politics, loyalty is key if you actually want to go up the ladder. The party leadership called me to educate me on the zoning pattern of our constituency that the current Assembly Member, Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu (Asst Chief Whip of the House) is the rightful person to take up the position, which was based on zoning. As a loyal party man and a respecter of political structure and zoning,I had to obey. The party’s decisions supersedes personal aggrandizement.

Did you think the youths have been given much opportunity to lead in Benue State? What do you think could be done to allow more youths to occupy important positions in the state’s governance?

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The previous administration of the state neglected the youths of Benue State so much. So therefore, I will say no! But this current government of H.E  Hyacinth Iornem Alia has drawn the road map for youth involvement in government on what to be done to allow more youths to occupy more positions, it is actually simple. The government should make it a deliberate approach by appointing youths at local government level and groom them into state positions. Take a look at senator Olanilekan Solomon Adeola alias Yayi, the senator representing Ogun West in the red chamber, he is a total groomed politician. Also the likes of Nyesom Wike and Co are examples we should follow.

Security is one of the biggest challenges in Nigeria and Benue State in particular, especially during Governor Ortom’s tenure. What did you think went wrong and how do you think the current administration could find a lasting solution to this crisis?

Youth negligence actually played a major role in the issue of insecurity in Benue State. Youths have a larger share of the total population. The previous government could not draw youth empowerment programme to engage their youths. You can agree with me that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. The youths were totally neglected and were dangerously idle. So anyone can come and talk them into whatsoever activity for them to gain a means of livelihood.

I think this current administration has started on a very good foot by engaging the traditional institutions and also by engaging the youths and women. You know women are a vital tool for fighting insecurity, I will explain that in subsequent interviews if you grant me.

I will recommend that this current administration establish an orientation agency (Benue State Orientation Agency BSOA) with the mandate to reach the hinterlands of the state with programmes that showcase effects of engaging in acts that lead to insecurity.

Also, local government councils should be saddled with the responsibility of organising local youth empowerment schemes, both federal and state representatives should also come in with agricultural innovative programmes. This will not eradicate Insecurity, but it would be reduced to the barest minimum.

Youths are crying that they lack jobs and developmental programmes to improve their lives. What more can be done to prevent them from resorting to crime?

Taking to crime is a choice. Mind you, the criminal activities in Benue State are more alarming in the villages where these youths feel they’ve been used and dumped. I will employ the government to partner with local NGOs to draw out programmes in various areas of human endeavours and launch them out into those areas. These NGO’s would in turn, provide mini jobs to these youths. You train and employ them, by doing so, you’ve used a stone to kill two birds. Do you Know IITA in Ibadan, the government can also partner and make use of the partnership to provide jobs for our youths and also engage them to solve the problem of food and insecurity that is staring us in the face. I also want to thank Governor Alia for appointing a young man into his cabinet, Hon. Itiza. This is what we need.

We know Benue State as the food basket of the nation. How can we explore this wealth to increase the GDP of the citizens in Benue and Nigeria?

No doubt Benue State is the food basket of the nation,but is not reflecting in the per-capita income of the citizens. My brother, a lot needs to be done. Benue state is predominantly a farming state. These people don’t have access to fertilizers, Agro-Chemical,no access roads to convey their harvested products to the market…tell me what will encourage such a farmer to go large scale farming? In all of these, the government should come up with a developmental plan to build mini- industries where some of these products can be processed into finished goods and create access to Agro-chemical to enhance production. Also, a portal should be created for investors, where investors meet with farmers. For example, the quantity of citrus (oranges) wasted every year in Benue State, imagine if properly handled, how much would be added to the GDP of the state.

What’s your plan to make Benue State the economic hub of North Central?

I don’t have any. I can only advise, because the state has a democratically elected governor, so he is the rightful person to have a plan to make Benue state an economic hub of the North Central. But we can share some options which may be of help to us. They are areas within the State that the government of the day must develop interest in. Places like Zakibiam in Ukim local government, hosting the largest yam market in Africa. Micro industries with yam as their raw materials should be brought there. Buruku local government has lots of citrus farms, Tarka and Gboko local government areas are known for  pepper and tomato farms. Also, companies with the above as their raw materials need to be established by the government or investors. We need to create a very attractive policy to attract investors to these areas. We also need to create an enabling business environment, partnering with mega companies within and outside the country can bring this to fruition.