Various communities in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, yesterday pledged to vote for all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in next Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.
They made the pledge during separate meetings with the governorship candidate of the party, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom.
The communities had voted massively for the party during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on March 28th 2015.
Leaders of the Muslim, Hausa, and Gaadi communities expressed hope that Chief Dr Ortom would solve the problems confronting them.
In separate documents submitted to the former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, the leaders listed similar challenges such as lack of functional schools, health care, streets, unemployment and portable water.
They also requested the inclusion of their members among government appointees.
Malam Shuaibu Suleiman spoke for the Muslim community, El-Sheikh Aliyu, Hajiya Aishatu Adamu and Muazu Adamu for the Hausa, while Michael Ajai spoke for the Gaadi community.
In his response Chief Dr Ortom expressed commended the Muslim and Hausa communities for their contributions to the development of the state and for peaceful coexistence with other communities.
He pledged to partner with mosques and churches in the delivery of social services and enthrenchment of core values such as transparency, accountability, integrity, truthfulness, selflessness, fairness and justice as well peace and unity stressing that this would make development inevitable.
The former Minister debunked claims that he had prejudices against their religion pointing out that he had made contributions to the construction of mosques.
He said his administration would create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and pave way for the creation of massive jobs, wealth and opportunities even as he would invest in the provision of critical infrastructure.
Chief Dr Ortom said the appreciation of the naira, the location of the missing $20 million, as well as General Muhammadu Buhari’s certificates were indication that sanity would be restored in the system.