By Terdue Atondu, Makurdi
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Benue South, Dr David Olofu, has pledged to provide inclusive and people-oriented representation if elected to the Senate in the 2027 elections.
Olofu, a former Commissioner for Finance in Benue State, said he would not “pocket” the mandate of the people for personal gain, but would ensure that the dividends of democracy reached communities across the nine local government areas of the senatorial district.
He made the pledge on Monday while addressing members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, on his senatorial ambition.
The former finance commissioner said the era when elected representatives secured the mandate of the people and abandoned their constituents, sometimes staying abroad without tangible achievements at home, should end.
According to him, his representation would usher in a “new dawn” anchored on the needs and aspirations of the people of Benue South.
Olofu said his close relationship with the constituents and knowledge of the challenges confronting the district placed him in a strong position to provide practical and sustainable solutions if elected.
He promised to restore the lost glory of Benue South through targeted interventions in education, infrastructure, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, and community development.
The ADC candidate also pledged to engage the executive arm of government whenever an issue fell outside his legislative jurisdiction, saying he would lobby relevant authorities to attract development to the senatorial district and Benue State.
On his proposed leadership structure, Olofu said he would establish what he described as the Benue South Assembly and Benue South Council to provide guidance and direction in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes with direct impact on the people.
He said the initiative would ensure that his representation remained inclusive and responsive to the needs of the people across the nine local government areas.
Olofu also highlighted some interventions he had undertaken in Benue South before declaring his political ambition.
He said 200 indigenes of the senatorial district, with beneficiaries drawn from Apa, Otukpo, Ohimini, Ado, Okpokwu, Agatu, Ogbadibo, Oju and Obi local government areas, had benefited equally from the first batch of his scholarship scheme.
He added that another 100 indigenes were scheduled to benefit from the second phase of the scholarship programme.
The former commissioner further disclosed that 100 rural women had been selected and empowered across the nine local government areas with N200,000 each.
He said the initiative was designed to help cushion the economic hardship faced by rural women, adding that another 50 women would be selected and empowered with N200,000 each annually going forward.
Olofu also announced that he had established a N10 million medical grant domiciled at St. Helen’s Hospital to provide free treatment and medical care for pregnant women from Benue South.
He said the initiative was aimed at reducing the financial burden of healthcare and hospital bills on expectant mothers in the district.
The ADC senatorial candidate appealed to the people of Benue South to support his candidacy in the 2027 election, promising to deploy the mandate towards restoring the district’s development and ensuring that government representation directly benefits the people.
