By Gom Mirian, Abuja 
Former National Organizing Secretary of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and current Board member, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Richard Tersoo Mnenga has made public his intent to run for the governorship of Benue State in 2023.

 
Mnenga who is also a member governing Council, Federal University of Otuoke in Belysea state is expected to run on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).  
The governorship aspirant who promised to fix insecurity challenges in the State if elected, made his ambition known yesterday at a media parley in Abuja the nation’s capital. 
He praised past and serving leadership in the state, but however, said he would leavage on their good projects as well as close the gaps yet to be addressed by them in the state 
He said “I am aspiring to be the next governor of Benue State. And I believe I am favored by so many things. 
“First and foremost, I am favoured by so ning, because if the governorship is going to Zone C, good and fine, but if it is to be returned to Zone A and B, then I believed I am favoured by Zoning. 
While lamenting the high level of insecurity in the state in particular and the country at large, he said he cardinal point agenda would be to ensure improved and mechanized farming in the state as it would have a multiplier effect in addressing the issue of unmployment and the farmer’s standard of living. 
“I will do exactly what former Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Audu Bako did by digging dams around them so that  farming activities can be done through irrigation mechanisation”.
 “farming activities can be carried out through the year and it’s very simple to achieve this, because Benue people were proud farmers. Instead of our youth engaging in political thugs activities, waiting for politicians to give them money, we would keep them busy with mechanised farming because the major priority in Benue is to give a new dimension to Agriculture.
“See the way yam is cultivated in Benue state and if we decided to build Yam flour mills now, it would solve unemployment and enrich the farmers and same thing goes to Orange, Pineapple and Mango, and I will give attention to these areas that have not been giving to. 
“Our major challenge in Benue State is insecurity but through proper consultation, we can be able to put it to an end, if the criminal activities are curtailed, farmers can go to farm so that our government economy would be improved.
“If I become a Governor, I will dialogue the issue with the relevant stakeholders, especially Northern leaders because I have a good relationship with them so that we can bring it to an end. Insecurity is a global issue, President Buhari home town is not left out and Zamfara is even worst, all these are Fulani State. he said.