MAKURDI – Ex Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Sam Ode, on Tuesday pledged to reform the Benue local government administration system for effective and efficient grassroots development.
Ode said this in Makurdi while declaring his intention to contest the PDP governorship ticket in the state.
He blamed poor institutional governance and policy leakages for the inability of the local government administration to properly play its historic role in the development process of the country.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the generality of our people.
“Yet, due to policy leakages and poor institutional governance, the local government has not been placed to properly play its historic role in the development process of the country.”
He commended the people for their resolve to support committed leadership that would create the desired environment conducive for the realisation of their collective aspirations.
“My intention is to fortify the foundations in tune with contemporary reality, particularly in tune with demands of 21st century realities and also to radically confront the challenges that have undermined our march to greatness and development.”
The former Adviser to Gov. Gabriel Suswam on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, further announced a five-point agenda to include education, agriculture, health, tourism and local government reforms.
“Our fame as a people is rooted in our agricultural productivity, hence the appellation of Benue State as the Food Basket of the Nation.
“Our administration would carefully embark on a policy of agricultural modernisation both as a means of encouraging our youth to take interest in agriculture and generate income for our teeming farmers.”
Ode said that his administration would promote unity among all the ethnic groups in the state for its growth and development.(NAN)