Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, have pledged that if the party wins the forthcoming governorship election in the state it would establish groundnut and rice processing factories in the Igede speaking part of the state.
They made the pledge in Obarike-Ito, in Obi local government area yesterday at the rally where a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barrister Jacob Ajene, led over two hundred supporters of that party to cross carpet into the APC.
Board of Trustees member and former PDP national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made the promise which the party’s governorship candidate and his running mate, Engr Benson Abounu, reiterated.
Chief Ogbeh stressed that as a farmer himself he knew that the only way for farmers to generate wealth from their produce was value addition through processing.
He lamented that although the people of the area were hardworking farmers they continued to wallow in poverty because they were selling primary products just like others across the state.
The former PDP national chairman expressed happiness that Chief Dr Ortom was an industrialist who had the requisite experience to industrialize the state.
Chief Ogbeh said the PDP had died and the people of the country would bury it in the forthcoming polls.
State APC chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, while welcoming the new members disclosed that the party amended its constitution last October in order to accord them the same rights and privileges with those whose membership preceded them.
Chief Dr Ortom expressed excitement at the coming of Barrister Ajene and the others saying with their coming the APC train was ready for take off towards Benue State Government House.
He pledged to add value on all sectors of the economy but place priority on industrialization, micro, small and medium scale enterprises as well create and enabling environment to boost commercial and trading activities aimed at generating massive opportunities, jobs, and wealth for the people of the state.