Top Presidential Hopeful, in the upcoming election for the Benue State University Alumni Association (BSUAA), Barr. Paul Edeh, has assured of his readiness to launch initiatives that would benefit members and the university.
Fielding questions from teeming BSUAA members who gathered from parts of the country in Makurdi, Benue state capital, Barr. Edeh said time has really come for BSUAA to rise and take its rightful place.
Addressing the mammoth crowd in a meeting that turned full Town Hall engagement, the experienced Presidential aspirant who currently leads the entire Otukpo Government Secondary School Old Boys Association (OGSSOBA) said, “People form or join different factions because they believe their voices have not counted. Under my watch, BSUAA will become a force to reckon with and we will be proud to have graduated from BSU.
“I say this because before I took over the mantle of leadership as the President of my secondary school Old Boys Association, things were about the way BSU alumni association is now. But after a short while under my leadership, we have galvanised every graduation year to unite and build their own. Today, every graduation year has its composition with coordinators.
“My strides as President of OGSSOBA have taught me that when leaders are trustworthy, people will be more than willing to stake their funds for their alma mater. I promise to bring integrity and transparency to the table when I become President of BSUAA. I believe I have the capacity to change the narrative.”
Responding to queries about his candidacy based on regional ties, Edeh clarified, “I’m not contesting because I’m an Idoma man, Benue man and Nigerian, I’m only contesting because I have the needed Capacity to lead BSU alumni body to greater heights.
“As a matter of fact, everything I have itemised on the booklet that I will do is what I’m committed to doing. I don’t just make promises, these promises give me sleepless nights.
“Under me as BSUAA President, an injury to one will be an injury to all. Together, we will make BSUAA what we all want it to become.”
The presidential aspirant outlined his strategic approach quoting the biblical Acts 1:8, Barr. Edeh said, “Just as the word of God gives strategic ways of conquering the world for the Kingdom of God, I have started harmosing our FCT chapter which is Jerusalem, declared my intention to lead BSU alumni body as Judea, engaging in the electoral process as Samaria and planning to unite our alumni body as uttermost part of the earth.”
On engaging alumni members in meaningful means of livelihood, the Presidential aspirant who is also the Chairman of Benue State Football Association (BSFA) and President, Ratels Sports Development Foundation said, “We will do all that is within our capacity to support our members who are yet to secure gainful employment by providing support to them as well as showing them opportunity.
“Alumni body shouldn’t be about collecting money, my leadership will liase with the school management to facilitate every aspect of the needs of the alumni body including collection of transcript.”
Earlier, the Director-General (DG) of the campaign organisation, Dr. Aaron Kaase, said the massive support which Barr. Edeh enjoys was due to his track records before and after his graduation.
He said, “Due to years of crisis and lack of cohesion within the alumni body, we who are members of the alumni came together and decided to choose Barr Paul Edeh out of thousands of us to assist in repositioning our affairs.”
The campaign DG also drew the attention of all alumni members on the need to bury all forms of tribal sentiments, personal interests and disunity tendencies and take positive actions that will bring lasting peace and sustainable legacies.
“BSU as we all know has graduated over 100, 000 students. By now, we are supposed to be a strong block in all things that happen in Benue State, including deciding who becomes the governor of our dear state and even the Vice Chancellor of our cherish alma mater.
“From now on, let us think and do things that will elevate us and put us on top where we belong. Together, we can do great things,” he said.
A 14-man Campaign team drawn drawn from various chapters of BSUAA was also inaugurated.
During questions and comments session, many BSUAA members took time out to eulogise Barr Edeh who they described as a prolific leader per excellence as well as a philanthropist of repute.
One after the other, they made obvious references to projects which Barr. Edeh had embarked upon within BSU with a verdict that no other presidential aspirant can boast of his pedigree.
The BSUAA election scheduled for December 28, 2023 on campus holds the promise of renewed leadership under Edeh’s vision.
