The Addingi Gire family has tipped the immediate past Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on International Investments, Sir Alex Atim Atoato Addingi, as their sole candidate for the 2027 Buruku Federal Constituency election, leading to Sir Alex’s declaration of intent to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the election.
After due consultation with his family, friends, associates, and traditional rulers, the former adviser met with the APC structure in Buruku LGA at his Mbakyan Council Ward on Sunday, April 12, where they discussed the future of Buruku Federal Constituency. The Buruku Local Government APC Executive Council, Ward Executives, elders, stakeholders, youth, women groups, and party observers turned out for the consultative meeting.
Sir Addingi is concerned about underdevelopment in the federal constituency, the reason he is offering himself to represent the people of Buruku at the House of Representatives (HoR), the lower Chamber of the National Assembly, to change the narrative and also in keeping faith with the spirit of the Tiv philosophy of “Ya na angbian.”
He has highlighted the promotion of science education, agriculture, economic growth, and the promotion of the Land Use Act to free space for farming as the major focus of his legislative agenda if entrusted to represent Buruku Federal Constituency come 2027.
The immediate past adviser, who is famous for donating free oil palm seedlings to farmers across the state, is determined to plant 65,000 oil palms annually across Buruku Federal Constituency over a period of five years, an ambitious plan that began with the donation of 15,000 oil palm seedlings to Buruku farmers last year. The distribution of the 65,000 oil palm seedlings, translating to 5000 seedlings to each of the 13 Council wards of Buruku, has already begun.
Sir Addingi, who has concluded study for the equipment of one secondary school each from Mbalagh, Mbatie, Mbagen and Amber Development Areas of Buruku Local Government Area with modern science laboratory equipment as a gift from his Chinese partners for breeding of future scientiests, medical doctors, engineers, architects and other science related professionals invites party men and women to see him as someone, who would do more to uplift their economic and social status if entrusted with the responsibility to represent them, exemplified in his everyday life.
While calling for continued prayers and support for Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State, to continue with his transformative governance, the former adviser said it was incumbent on the people to re-elect the Governor in 2027 as a pat on the back for the good works he is doing.
The most intriguing aspects of the consultation and subsequent declaration of intent to contest stem from the commitment of the family, the traditional institution, and the party structure.
Addingi Gire family, for instance, has adopted Sir Alex as their sole candidate with the Mue Ter Mbanyam, HRH Tivfa Addingi, warning interoperability to stay off. The royal father was clear to politicians that the Addingi family has resolved and blessed Sir Alex and won’t renege on the decision to present another aspirant today in the same position.
Both the Buruku traditional institution, led by HRH Moses Hanior, Ter Buruku, party men, and women, spoke highly of Sir Alex’s antecedents as someone who put others above self.
Tyoor Mpev Upav, District Head of Mbajôr, Tyoor Mathias Zer, District Head of Mbaakula, spoke on behalf of Tombo and Mbanyam respectively, extoling the qualities of Sir Addingi, whom they said the news of his good deeds has gone far and wide, and they do not doubt that he would do well as the people’s representative.
Former Buruku Local Government Council (LGC) Chairman, Hon Teghtegh Ankyambe; DI Sarwuan; Elder Ngôigo Igbon (Mbagen); former Buruku LGC Deputy Chair Orya Alôm; Elder Kombur Ali (Etulo); Woman Leader, Hon Doris Msugh; and Chair of ward chairs, Terfa Tarkighir, all gave their blessings, saying, voices from the market have favoured Sir Alex for the 2027 Buruku top job.
TNT learnt that for Buruku Federal Constituency, Mbanyam, from where Sir Alex comes, has been represented fewer times than Tombo, and there is a clamour to balance the representation.
