Four governorship candidates in Benue State have endorsed the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 of Benue state as panacea to farmers/herders clashes in the state.
They vowed to uphold the law, establish model ranches and make some reviews that would reposition the law to be friendlier, while adopting modern security trends that would restore lasting peace in the state.
The candidates spoke at a debate organised by the Benue Coalition of Business and Professional Associations, BENCOBPA in conjunction with the Centre for International Private Enterprise, CIPE, USA and the Nigerian Election Debate Group, NEDG in Makurdi.
Present for the debate were the governorship candidates of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Richard Gbawuan, Sam Abba of the United Progressive Party, UPP, Innocent Dagba of Peoples Trust Party, PTP and Dr Paul Angya of the Labour Party, LP participated in the debate.
The governorship Candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Emmanuel Jime, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Samuel Ortom and that of Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Rev Frederick Ikyaan, were absent, though they were invited.
Governorship candidate of the UPP, Mr Sam Abah promised to review the law by building up ranches to accommodate cattle of all tribes to demonstrate to all that the law was not against the Fulanis or any other group.
They individually pledged to reposition the health and education sectors through a robust reward system that will encourage teachers, attract and keep specialists at the state hospitals.
They equally promised to implement the N30, 000 national minimum wage for all workers in Benue.
READ ALSO: Fulani Herdsmen Kill 16 Persons in Agatu, Benue State
The Labour Party candidate, Dr Paul Angya however noted that N30, 000 was not even enough to feed a family for one week and promised to improve the welfare of workers in the state saying if elected governor come March 9, 2019, he would pay living wages rather than minimum wage.
Dr Angya decried tribal considerations as the basis for electing people into office in Benue, especially the position of governor and appealed that Benue should eschew tribal sentiments and stand with one another to elect credible leaders for quality service delivery. He also promised to give women a significant place in his government.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Trust Party, PTP Dr Innocent Dagba vowed to declare a state of emergency in education sector by partnering with education focused international agencies to attract grants and other incentives that will revive the fallen standards in education in the state.
Also speaking, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Richard Gbawuan promised women a 40% affirmative representation in his government if elected among other promises.
