From Abdullateef Bambgose
A youth group under the aegis of the Otukpo/Abakwu Youth Progressive Union in Benue South has called on political aspirants and contestants to conduct their campaigns with decorum and avoid statements capable of overheating the polity.
In a statement signed by the group’s Secretary-General, Mr Inalegwu Ijoganu, and Mr John Ijagwu, the youths expressed concern over comments made during a recent interview on Idoma Television by former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Ottah.
The group described the remarks as “uncalled for”, alleging that the former lawmaker used the platform to make allegations and engage in name-calling rather than focus on issue-based discourse.
“We watched with dismay as Hon. Ottah, rather than concentrate on issues, devoted time to making allegations and calling names during the interview,” the statement said.
The group maintained that, despite recent political realignments within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and defections to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abba Moro — whom they claimed appeared to be the target of the interview — had made notable contributions through his legislative activities and constituency interventions.
According to the group, the responsibilities of a legislator extend beyond constituency projects and include lawmaking, oversight functions, motions and petitions. It argued that attempts to reduce legislative performance solely to financial considerations were misleading and unfair to elected representatives from Benue South.
Commending Senator Moro for what it described as his resilience and developmental efforts in Benue South Senatorial District, the group claimed that his contributions had been significant across the zone.
The youths also urged Hon. Ottah to present his own scorecard to the electorate rather than engage in criticism of the Senator.
The statement listed Senator Moro’s legislative record since 2019 as including sponsorship of bills relating to the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo; the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital; the North Central Development Commission, NCDC; and the Federal College of Agricultural Technology, Opialu-Ojapo.
Other measures credited to him by the group include bills on veterans’ welfare, independent candidacy, local government autonomy, support for families of fallen servicemen and amendments to the Electoral Act.
The group further highlighted motions and interventions attributed to the senator, including advocacy against discriminatory age limits in employment.
On constituency projects, it cited the construction and rehabilitation of healthcare centres, classroom blocks, solar-powered streetlights, rural electrification schemes, roads, bridges, transformers and other community-based interventions across Benue South.
The group urged political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of future elections and avoid statements capable of deepening political tensions within the district.
