Benue: Forum lauds SDGs, NEPAD, warns against mischief makers

Group, Benue Renaissance Forum, has lauded the office of the Special Adviser on Development Cooperation, SDGs, and NEPAD in Benue State for intervening in the construction of 42 fully equipped modern primary health care centres with referral vehicles and drugs. 

The forum, however, warned individuals who have constituted themselves as merchants of blackmail to intimidate public servants with fictitious claims of corruption with the aim to extorting monies from such officials to desist from it. According to a statement by the forum’s President, Ode Adejo, and Secretary, Eunice Abakume, its attention has been drawn to a grand plan by some enemies of Benue State brandishing themselves as coalition of civil society organisations to petition and protest against the milestone achievements recorded by the office of the adviser to the Benue State Governor on MDGs, NEPAD and Development Corporation, under the leadership of Dr. Magdalyn Dura. 

The statement said it is worrisome that various security agencies have not investigated the activities of these persons who have failed to engage in meaningful economic ventures and have resorted to blackmail as a source of livelihood. Part of the statement reads, “Suffice to say that this latest ploy by these faceless individuals to intimidate the brain behind the achievements in Benue State under SDGs that has won accolades from all strata of the society has exposed them as enemies of development and the society in general. 

“It is on record that projects executed to improve the livelihood of Benue people are dotted in every part of the state. From health, education, sanitation to economic empowerment, the footprints of SDGs are everywhere for all to see. Although, we are in the era of politicking where praises and criticism are chiefly done based on political leaning, but the giant strides recorded by SDGs under two years have been praised by most Benue people irrespective of political party affiliation.’’ In education, the statement claimed that classroom blocks have been constructed and steel framed desks and benches, as well as exercise books have been supplied to all schools in the six participating Local Government Areas, Agatu, Ohimini, Oju, Ushongo, Gboko and Tarka. 

“Indeed, SDGs under Dr Dura has constructed and installed machinery for the Orange Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Ushongo and Yandev towns. The Soybeans Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Wannune Tarka, the Benniseed Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Oju, and Garri Processing Plants in Ogwule Kaduna and Ogoli Onyangede in Agatu and Ohimini Local Government Areas respectively with the attendant effects of boosting the local economy and to gainfully engage our people, thereby reducing unemploymentand crime amongst several other interventions. 

“That is why we find it most irresponsible and irritating for any sane being(s) to contemplate any move to dent the image of Dura who has overtime stood on the part of grassroots and human development. We are convinced by this move that certain persons have sworn to ensure that Benue State is not identified with anything positive.

 “As indigenes of the state, we have resolved not to stay aloof and allow these real enemies of ours to continue to determine how we are viewed in the country and beyond. Therefore, we will mobilise all well-meaning sons and daughters of Benue at home and in the Diaspora to stand up for this one good thing we all have attested to.No one can feign ignorance over the people- oriented works done by SDGs. “We will therefore follow through with the obnoxious plans of these blackmail merchants to expose them for what they truly are.

 As they plan to protest in Abuja alleging imaginary corrupt activities of the SDGs, we shall also provide details of the activities of the office of the adviser to the governor on MDGs, NEPAD and Development Corporations for all to see. “We call on Dura not to be deterred by the ranting of these lazy people who have chosen the part of darkness to eke out a living. We equally advise that adequate publicity should be made of most of these achievements to silence these naysayers”, the group declared.