By: Titus Akor, Makurdi

The Member, Media and Communications Committee of the Presidential Campaign and National Convener of The Alternative Movement Otunba Showunmi, has disclosed that Benue State is ready to deliver total votes for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia in the 2027 general elections.

Showunmi made the disclosure on Thursday in Makurdi during an interactive session with men of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, explained that journalists’ role has become even more important now than ever before due to the collapse of traditional gatekeeping in news dissemination.

“Before now, it was easy to rely on many layers of gatekeeping with news editors and reporters who will ensure they manage communication very well. But with the avalanche of everybody who has a phone now able to do so much, it becomes even more important that we continuously reach those of you who are the real thoroughbred co-professionals and that’s why we are here,” Showumi stressed.

Showunmi further explained that he is a member of the Presidential Campaign team of the President in the APC, led by Mr. Dele Alake as the absolute spokesman of the campaign, while Chief Spokesperson of the President is the Special Adviser on Media to the President, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and the overall information architecture is managed by the Honourable Minister of Information while he serves as the Deputy Spokesperson for the campaign.

He revealed that his team came to Benue to get a feeler from the people of the State on their feelings, level of preparation, excitement and the potential number of support and votes the President is likely to garner from the state.

“And I must say that it’s been a very pleasant experience. Young, old, women, men, critical stakeholders and even members of IPAC have given us a good account of what their interpretation of the programs and policies of this administration is,” he maintained.

According to him, Benue people asked that the President should keep remembering Benue and keep doing more for the state.

He stated that they are particularly excited that Benue produced the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, whom he described as the administrative head of government, and that they speak highly of him.

Showunmi added that residents are happy with their Governor and enumerate his achievements including scaled-up construction across the nooks and crannies of the state, revival of moribund industries, production of vegetable oil, establishment of Benue bakery producing bread, Benue water factory, and ongoing federal road interventions including the Enugu-Otukpo road and the Abuja-Nasarawa-Benue road.

“They even tell us that their cement factory is going to come on stream. So what we hear from them is a lot of excitement, a lot of hope. They are very happy that salaries and emoluments of their people are now being paid as and when due,” he stressed.

He attributed the regular payment of salaries to the restructured framework for fiscal and financial federalism by the federal government.

“They are very, very happy with the government and they pledge their support. They give us assurances that they are not only going to vote for the President and his party, that they are going to do everything humanly possible to ensure that the number is total. So anytime you see us in Benue now, we are saying it’s total,” Showunmi said.

He described the slogans in Benue as exciting: “When you say Tinubu, they would shout Nigeria. When you say Nigeria, they would scream Tinubu. When you say Benue, they would shout Alia. And when you say APC, they would say Yes Father. That type of energy tells us that they are already in campaign mood and that it’s the entire state that is on board.”

He said even non-indigenes in Benue confirmed they are comfortable in the state.

Showunmi urged Benue people to close ranks and reduce infighting, noting that the eyes of the world are on Benue, with a Benue son in America, Mr. Stephen Enada, engaging the US government at the State Department, Congress and up to the Trump office on Benue matters.

“Now you must close ranks among yourselves. It doesn’t make any sense for too much criticism, fighting, infighting. We are all brothers. There isn’t much difference between the Tiv, Idoma and Igede. Now that the world is looking at us, we should also try to make the best use of it by showing capacity and delivering numbers,” he said.

“If power is going to swing from the South to the North when the President is finished, who told you Benue cannot seek to be President? If we deliver the numbers as we should, after all North Central is also north,” he added.

He called for decent politicking and decent dissent, warning that instigation of society, excessive expansion of fault lines, misinformation and excessive tribalism are not in the best interest of the country.

“Nigeria is the greatest attention in the world. The more we are together, the happier we shall be,” he concluded.