…calls for equity, performance-based leadership

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

A university don and development expert, Prof. Cephas Tushima, has formally declared his intention to contest the Benue North-East Senatorial seat (Zone A) in the 2027 general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to champion justice, equity, and effective representation.

Tushima made the declaration in Makurdi while addressing members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, where he outlined his vision for the senatorial district and called for a shift from what he described as “complacent leadership.”

The aspirant, who hails from Mbachom in Yaav Council Ward of Kwande Local Government Area, LGA, said his decision to run was driven by a desire to serve rather than personal ambition adding that “This declaration is not about ambition, it is about responsibility. I understand our struggles, I share in our aspirations, and I carry a burden for our collective advancement.”

Tushima expressed strong support for the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia, noting that his commitment predates the governor’s emergence. According to him, “I believed in the vision of Governor Hyacinth Alia, long before it became mainstream, and I remain committed to that vision today.”

He also highlighted his contributions to social welfare initiatives in the state, particularly his involvement in the governor’s Care Initiative for the elderly and vulnerable.

“I was the first to support the Governor’s Care Initiative, sponsoring the enumeration process and facilitating the provision of initial palliatives across all local government areas of Zone A,” he said.

Speaking on leadership, Tushima stressed the need for measurable impact rather than years in office. “Leadership must be proven in action, not in words. Service must be demonstrated, not promised. Longevity without impact is not leadership,” he said.

He decried what he described as the marginalisation of Kwande LGA in the senatorial arrangement, noting that the area had never produced a senator. “For decades, Kwande Local Government Area has suffered a glaring injustice, every other LGA in Zone A has produced a senator, yet Kwande has been consistently excluded,” he said.

He called on the people of the district to prioritise fairness and competence in the 2027 elections. “The time has come to choose capacity over complacency, performance over presence, and courage over convenience,” he urged.

Tushima further promised to focus on critical areas such as security, infrastructure, education, and economic empowerment if elected. “I will be your voice where it matters, your advocate where it counts, and your servant at all times,” he pledged.

He also cautioned against vote-buying and transactional politics, describing leadership as a “sacred trust” rather than a personal investment. “We must resist the culture of ‘cash-and-carry’ politics,” he said.