Official speech of Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Jime on his emergence as APC flag bearer for Governor 2019.

Shortly after he was declared flagbearer of the party , Barr Jime read his speech...Read it below

WE STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF HISTORY

BEING THE TEXT OF A THANK-YOU ADDRESS/ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) BENUE GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, RT. HON. EMMANUEL LIAMBEE JIME, TO THE DISTINGUISHED BENUE APC DELEGATES, FOLLOWING HIS RESOUNDING VICTORY IN THE KEENLY CONTESTED APC GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY ELECTION, HELD IN MAKURDI, THIS 1ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 2018.

Protocols:

Let me start by thanking God Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, who makes all things possible in His own time and who has granted us this victory.

Our leaders, Distinguished Benue APC Delegates, it is with great joy, over-flowing joy, that I address you now. This is really a great day for our great party, our democracy and indeed our dear state, Benue.

I specially thank the leader of our great party, Distinguished Sen. (Dr.) George Akume. I salute his sterling leadership attributes and commend the manner he has managed the affairs of our great party effectively and most admirably. In the same vein, I acknowledge and thank our mother and wife of our leader, Chief (Mrs.) Regina Akume (JP).

I equally salute the able, State APC Chairman, our own Comrade Abba Yaro, and his competent EXCO, for ensuring that this event is most successful. Thank you all.

I must not fail to thank our Honourable and Distinguished Delegates who have sacrificed their time, comfort, energies and resources to make this day a reality and a huge success.

Let me, at this point, take the time to especially thank my co-contestants: Chief Akange Audu, Chief Mike Iordye, Arc. Asema Achado, Hon. Titus Zam and Hon. Benjamin Adanyi. I congratulate you on a well-run campaign and, consequently, sincerely extend to you my hand of fellowship.

I salute my indefatigable campaign staff. God bless you. I greet my dear wife, Mrs. Comfort Ochanya Jime, and my children for standing by me and encouraging me every step of the way.

I greet everybody – widows, politicians, civil servants, the pensioners, applicants, students, displaced people, farmers, traders, … who have kept faith with Emmanuel Jime and our Great Party – the APC; and whose steadfast prayers have powered our Dream and brought us where we are today. 

All of you are the unsung heroes and heroines of this our democratic struggle which has brought about this great victory. The Chinese say: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step;” and, for us, the journey has already started. We have taken the proverbial first step, but there are many steps ahead: holding hands together, winning the February Governorship election and commencing the Rescue Mission in earnest.

We are determined to rescue Benue, to take back our state, our commonwealth and our dignity as a people, we see hope, we see faith, we see resolve…that together, determined, we can make it; that together, holding hands and purposely moving forward, we can redeem the promise of our destiny as a great people.

I stand before you all today to remind you of the Promise of Benue State. When our political leaders: the J.S. Tarkas, the J.C. Obandes, the Aper Akus, the Wantaregh Paul Unongos, the Amb. Edwin Ogbus etc exerted themselves, spent their resources and sacrificed their careers, to see to the creation of Benue state, they did not envisage that some 50 years later, Benue would model the tragedy of failed governance or become a massive killing-field – with those we trust with our welfare, security and protection, becoming traitorous accomplices!

So, beyond this celebration, beyond this thanksgiving, and besides the palpable excitement, there is the stark reality of what lies ahead. The General Election is coming (with the Governorship Election billed for February), and we face an opponent we cannot under-rate.

But we pledge ourselves to the democratic tradition i.e. we plan to run a campaign of issues: no violence, no insults, no bitterness, no desperation, no under-hand dealings and no do-or-die tactics. We desire power only so that we can serve; and serving is not by force.                                                                    

I believe it is time we moved away from this flawed narrative of slogans and the blame-game; a narrative that has turned Benue into a textbook-example of a failed leadership or executive surrender – with its litany of failed promises, empty slogans and squandered opportunities. 

It is my belief, that together, we can free our Benue from the shackles of mediocrity and the shame of brigandage; together we can free her tortured spirit as well as redirect her creative energies towards optimum productivity. This way, and within the shortest possible time, Benue, yes, our Benue, can, once again, begin to vibrate and resonate with good news!  

Once again, congratulations to us all, for bringing Change to Benue.

Long Live Benue State!

Long Live Benue People!!

Long Live Benue APC!!!