17th August, 2018
A former Chairman of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, has charged women in Benue to rise up to the challenge of leadership to resolve problems in the state.
She gave the charge on Friday after holding talks with elders of Kwande community, residing in Makurdi to announce her intention to seek political office.
She also told the residents to take advantage of the extension of the deadline for voter registration to get their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
Adzape-Orubibi announced her intention to contest for the Benue North East senatorial seat on the platform of APC in the upcoming general elections.
She said her decision to join the contest was borne out of the fact that she had “all it takes’’ to accelerate growth and development.
“My mission is to restore APC’s rightful place in the state and ensure the needed unity of the people of Benue State who are now divided along religious and ethnic lines.
“My interest is on youths and women and also on economic empowerment if given the party’s ticket and if I eventually win the election.”
According to her, the people cannot achieve the change of leadership they desire without getting their PVCs.
She, however, lauded Gov. Samuel Ortom for giving her an opportunity to serve, in spite of the fact that the governor had earlier relieved her of her appointment.
She praised Ortom for standing by her to succeed in her job, despite what she described as intense pressures by politicians to rubbish her.
“Many people did not believe a woman could do the job. I did because where money is involved there is the tendency and temptation for embezzlement.
The senatorial aspirant said that she was proud of her performance at the BIRS, saying that she made the difference for workers of the company.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that Adzape- Orubibi is the only female aspirant from the Benue North East senatorial zone.
The duo of incumbent Sen. Barnabas Gemade, and a former Governor of Benue, Mr Gabriel Suswam, who also intends to run for the senate are from the zone.