Breaking from conventional campaign outreach, Dr. David Olofu at the weekend used a Lagos engagement to deepen consultations for his Senate race, convening diaspora stakeholders alongside leaders from the home front in the Benue South Senatorial District.
The meeting brought together representatives from the district’s nine local government areas, including community leaders, professionals, retired public officers, party stakeholders, and members of the Benue South diaspora, to examine development priorities and the future of representation.
Addressing the gathering, Olofu said his decision to seek elective office followed extensive consultations and growing dissatisfaction with the state of representation in the district. He described Lagos as a strategic venue, noting its position as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre and home to a significant population of Benue South indigenes.
According to him, consultations with traditional rulers, professionals, and grassroots leaders informed a legislative agenda anchored on four pillars, People, Power, Prosperity, and Progress, aimed at converting the district’s agricultural, human, and economic potential into sustainable development.
He stressed that effective representation must translate into equitable policies, balanced development, and fair resource allocation across all communities.
Olofu also announced plans to establish the Benue South Peoples Assembly (BSPA) and the Benue South Peoples Council (BSPC), which he said would institutionalise inclusive, bottom-up policymaking and sustained citizen participation.
He outlined twelve priority areas for legislative intervention, including agriculture and food security, education, health, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment, ICT and innovation, infrastructure and road networks, local government reforms, security and peacebuilding, law and justice, industry and energy partnerships, diaspora engagement, and women and sports development.
The event featured goodwill messages from several leaders. Chief Abu Abdul opened the session with prayers, while Rt. Hon. John Ngbede, who led the delegation, said the engagement was notable for its inclusiveness, with representatives from various Idoma dialect groups and communities present.
Former Secretary to the State Government, Prof. David Salihu, and governorship aspirant Dr. Peter Adejo commended the consultative approach and stressed the need for leadership grounded in broad stakeholder input.
Other speakers included Chief Patrick Ogbu; former Okpokwu Local Government Chairman Barr. Jacob Ogwuche; former Oju Local Government Chairman Hon. Edwin Okpe; retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Odaudu Salihu; retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tony Olofu; Dr. Michael Adah, Chairman of Opiatoha K’Idoma Lagos; retired Rear Admiral Andy Onoja Odeh; Dr. Mike Adah, General Secretary of Opiatoha Club Lagos; and Godwin Onyeke, President of Okpotuche Club Lagos.
An elder statesman and party stalwart, Alhaji Usman Lungu, urged loyalists to mobilise effectively for the aspirant’s success, pledging to work across party lines toward that objective.
Also speaking, Chief Luke Akubo, the Och’Idoma in Lagos, offered prayers and blessings for Olofu, praising his philanthropy, governance experience, and commitment to the emancipation of the Idoma nation.
Popular activist Chris Adaba Aba, also known as Mad Lion, described the engagement as a call for Idoma unity, while a prominent woman leader and community organiser, Madam Cynthia Egwa, said the consultations were unprecedented, citing years of neglect of the senatorial district.
Some speakers likened the consultations to a “know-your-customer” governance model, arguing that understanding community needs should precede policy formulation.
The Lagos engagement concluded with prayers and goodwill messages and forms part of Olofu’s wider consultation tour across Benue State as he seeks the Senate seat on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
