By Eric Ochigbo
The Forum of Senior Special Assistants to Governors of North Central states has appointed Dr Joseph Ameh Erico, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kogi East, as its National Adviser.
The Chairman of the forum, Hon. Prince Ezekiel Oruma, announced the appointment on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to Erico in Abuja.
Oruma said the appointment was in recognition of Erico’s experience, commitment to peace and development, and capacity to contribute to initiatives aimed at promoting security and national harmony.
He said the forum was established to serve as a strategic bridge between government and the people by providing policy support, driving grassroots mobilisation and ensuring that government programmes translated into tangible benefits for citizens.
According to him, the forum’s vision is to promote a united, peaceful and prosperous North Central region aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said SSAs were strategically positioned to mobilise support at the grassroots, interpret government policies and ensure that citizens understood and benefited from them.
Oruma said the forum was also committed to supporting the continuity of the administration of President Bola Tinubu beyond 2027, describing the effort as one aimed at sustaining what members considered good governance.
He commended Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy, saying the decision had freed resources and increased allocations to state governments for development.
“We salute your acumen, your humility, and your commitment to peace and development. That is why the Forum has collectively resolved to appoint you as the National Adviser of the Forum of Senior Special Assistants to the Governors of North Central,” he said.
The chairman also sought Erico’s partnership on initiatives focused on security, peace and national harmony, particularly in addressing challenges confronting the North Central region.
He urged the people of Kogi East to support Erico’s bid for the Senate, saying Nigeria needed his experience in lawmaking and representation.
Responding , Erico appreciated the forum for the appointment and pledged to collaborate with members in advancing peace, development and effective engagement with communities across the region.
Ameh pledged quality representation and to attract more infrastructure projects to Kogi East Senatorial District if elected senator
The candidate said that his legislative agenda would focus on infrastructure development, road construction and the revival of key economic projects in the district.
He said that his responsibility as a senator would go beyond lawmaking to include effective representation and negotiation with the Federal Government for projects that would directly benefit his constituents.
He pledged to engage the National Assembly, the Presidency and relevant government agencies to secure interventions in areas requiring urgent development.
“My principal responsibility is to make laws and pass bills that can impact the lives of my people positively,” Ameh said.
The senatorial candidate cautioned voters against politicians making unrealistic promises ahead of the polls.
Ameh urged voters to scrutinise campaign promises and assess them against what governments had already achieved before making their choices.
He said that voters should be wary of promises such as the return of fuel subsidy which he claimed benefited only a few saying that benefits of the current regime was on the way.
According to him, promises to reverse government policies without presenting clear alternatives and evidence of how such policies would improve their lives is a red flag.
“Some candidates have come up with a lot of promises, which cannot work, some which we have tried in Nigeria before and is not working for us.
“Somebody came up to promise us that he is going to bring back fuel subsidy; something we have tried and did not want for us.
“President Bola Tinubu understands the feelings of those in the grassroots and he is not ready to succumb to the highly placed people and he removed fuel subsidy.
“We can see a lot of ongoing projects everywhere in Nigeria, and you see our governors are paying salaries, they are doing a lot of projects in their states,” he said.
The candidate urged voters to focus on tangible development projects and policies capable of improving infrastructure, the economy and living conditions.
