By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Dr. Stephen Hwande, has taken a swipe at the current political leadership in Benue State, blaming what he described as poor representation at the National Assembly for the state’s underdevelopment and worsening humanitarian crisis.
Speaking to journalists in Makurdi at the weekend during the flag-off ceremony of the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week, Hwande, who declared his intention to contest the Benue North West senatorial seat in the 2027 elections, said the time had come for “serious-minded leaders” to take over from what he termed “failed representatives.”
“The reason IDPs are protesting is simple – there is failure of representation. When people fail exams, they leave the system. That’s what will happen in 2027,” Hwande stated.
He said that the current senator representing Benue North West would not be a hard nut to crack, emphasising that, “Zam is a small thing,” and vowed to unseat him come 2027.
Asked about his political platform, Hwande declined to mention a specific party but repeatedly aligned himself with Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“I’m with the governor. Wherever you see Governor Alia, that’s where Hwande is. I’m going to work with Governor Alia,” he maintained.
Highlighting what he called his tangible contributions to the state, Hwande said, “Where is Zam’s investment? I brought IVF to Benue. I brought it to the Teaching Hospital. It’s about productivity. Forget those people.”
He also defended his senatorial ambition while still serving as CMD, arguing that he had not abandoned his duties.
“If I have failed, would I even be here talking? When you do more work, more work is given to you,” Hwande said.
He criticised the current structure of leadership recruitment in Benue, saying the state ranks poorly among its peers due to unqualified representatives, adding,“If we have serious National Assembly members, IDPs would not be protesting. You were sent to Abuja to help the governor, not fight him. That’s a constitutional failure.”
