Dr. David Olofu, an aspirant for the Benue South senatorial seat, has continued consultations with stakeholders from the district, outlining key legislative priorities aimed at addressing long-standing development challenges in the area.
The consultation, held on Saturday in Lagos, brought together leaders and representatives of sociocultural groups from the nine local government areas of the Benue South Senatorial District.
Speaking at the meeting, Olofu said his decision to seek public office was informed by extensive engagement with traditional institutions, professionals and community leaders, as well as concerns over governance and development outcomes in the district.
He explained that Lagos was chosen for the engagement because of its strategic importance as Nigeria’s commercial centre and the significant presence of Benue South indigenes in the city.
“Many of our people live and work in Lagos yet remain deeply connected to Benue South. Their perspectives are important in shaping ideas and policy directions for the district,” he said.
Olofu described Benue South as a region with substantial but underutilised human and natural resources, noting the need for policies that promote inclusive growth and balanced development across communities.
He said his proposed legislative focus would prioritise agriculture and food security, education and human capital development, healthcare, youth employment and entrepreneurship, infrastructure, security, innovation and local government reforms, among others.
According to him, effective representation should translate into equitable policy outcomes and improved service delivery. He also disclosed plans to create structured platforms for citizen engagement to ensure regular input from constituents on governance and development issues.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including professionals, traditional leaders and retired public officers, commended the consultative approach and called for sustained dialogue among political actors, community leaders and residents of the district.
Rt. Hon. John Ngbede described the engagement as inclusive, noting the participation of representatives from different Idoma-speaking communities. He said such consultations were important for building consensus and strengthening democratic processes.
Other speakers emphasised the need for leadership that prioritises accountability, community participation and long-term development planning, urging continued engagement across social and professional groups.
Observers noted that the Lagos meeting forms part of broader consultations by political actors ahead of future electoral activities in Benue South, reflecting growing interest in issue-based dialogue and citizen involvement in governance.