2027: Prof. Tushima declares for senate, says he will be a bridge builder

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 
Prof. Cephas Tushima on Monday, declared his  Intent to Contest for Benue North-East Senatorial District (Zone A) comes 2027 with a promise to render committed and people oriented representation.

He described himself as a  bridge-builder, a tested leader, and a servant committed to advancing collective good of his people with integrity, competence, and courage.

Prof. Tushima  who made his intention known at press conference held in NUJ house in Makurdi, charged the good people of Zone A to  rise above sentiment, reject complacency, and embrace a future defined by competence, justice, and purposeful leadership.

He added that together, they will rise to correct the past, redefine leadership by performance, and secure a stronger, more inclusive future for Benue North-East.

"To the good people of Zone A, I make this solemn pledge: I will be your voice where it matters, your advocate where it counts, and your servant at all times.
I also urge that we resist the culture of “cash-and-carry” politics, where leadership is treated as a personal investment rather than a sacred trust.

" The example of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has shown that disciplined, selfless, and accountable leadership can deliver real change. That is the standard I align with, and that is the standard I commit to uphold.

"However, beyond competence lies a moral imperative. For decades, Kwande Local Government Area has suffered a glaring injustice in the political arrangement of our senatorial district. Every other local government area in Zone A has produced a senator—some more than once—yet Kwande has been consistently excluded".

"I have been privileged to receive diverse educational training across environmental sciences, engineering (geo-informatics), the humanities, and management sciences. This multidisciplinary background equips me with the perspective needed to address the complex challenges of governance.

"My professional journey spans decades of service in development and property industry, academia, administration, leadership, and corporate governance.

"From my early work in the civil service to nearly two decades in academia across Nigeria and internationally, and from overseeing large institutional systems to mentoring hundreds of young Nigerians through a non-profit initiative I founded, my life has been committed to building people and strengthening institutions.

"To the good people of Zone A, the question before us as 2027 approaches is simple but profound: what qualifies a man to lead us? Is it the number of years spent in office, or the results delivered to the people? For too long, we have been told to equate longevity with performance. But our experience tells a different story. 

"There have been those who occupied positions of power for decades, yet when it mattered most, our interests were not defended. We cannot forget how a Federal Polytechnic sited in Kwande Local Government Area was relocated elsewhere without the resistance such a critical development deserved", he alluded.

According to the  senatorial contender, justice delayed must not become justice denied, adding that "this is not just about Kwande—it is about fairness, inclusion, and the unity of our senatorial district. When one part is left behind, the whole is diminished. But when justice is done, all rise together