Benue state is irrefutably one state with a flurry of governorship aspirants, jostling for the soul of the state in 2019. At the last count, no fewer than 20 governorship aspirants had indicated intention in occupying Government House Makurdi, come 2019.
Given the flurry of aspirants spread across four to five political parties, the electorates are naturally confronted with the basic challenge of who among them is verifiably competent and a most suitable choice to lead the state. No one is in doubt that Benue state is in dire need of political salvation and liberation.
To most Benue people and political activists, the ruling APC has remained the gateway to the desired political freedom and emancipation of the state in 2019. They consistently argue that the state would not have a better option and the prospects of a fortified future, by dumping APC, whilst it’s very certain, the party would still retain power at the center.
And luckily, the Benue APC has a handful, manageable aspirants for its 2019 governorship outing. But more loud echoes have resonated in the direction of a gentleman, lawyer, reputable parliamentarian, team player and an unsung political jigsaw, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Adanyi. He has been on the political scene of Benue for more than a decade, working in the shadows and tutelage of prominent political leaders in the state.
He silently offered service to his people, until his constituency decided that he should represent them in the State House of Assembly, to better impact on them through legislations. Adanyi has not disappointed either.
The Benue Assembly sighted his leadership thickness, even as a greenhorn in Chambers from 2011 to 2015, by eventually crowning him the Minority Leader after three years of legislative activism. Then, he sauntered into the legislative arm of government on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which would later in 2015, blossom and morph into a ruling party to lead Nigeria, after a merger, domesticated in Nigeria’s political firmament as the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Under a dutiful leader, the APC North Central leader and kingmaker, Sen. George Akume, whom providence has rendered pricelessly to Adanyi, the seldom privilege of mentorship, this parliamentarian has properly girdled his loins for leadership. As majority Leader under APC, beginning from 2015, he steered a robust Assembly, leading all lawmakers into a seamless unanimity of legislative decisions that have continued to impact positively on the lives of Benue people.
Those who know Adanyi closely attests that he is a man of his convictions, insofar as they align with his prodding of truth, fairness, equity, justice and common good. He strikes like one gifted leader, only likened to the likes of America’s revolutionary fighter and first President, Gen. George Washington who gave his heart and soul for the liberation of his country.
Barrister Adanyi , an indigene of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, was born on August 1, 1968. He completed his primary education at the at the NKST Primary School, Wadata in 1980 and in 1985, obtained his General Certificate of Education (GCE) from Government Secondary School, Ikpayongo with an impressive result.
Adanyi proceeded to the School of Basic Studies (SBS), Makurdi for his IJMB result in 1987. He spent four years at the University of Calabar for his LL.B degree in 1993 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. And upon graduation, he was called to the Bar as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1994.
While serving his fatherland under the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in the Law firm of Olajide Oyewole & Co, Lagos, Barrister Adanyi was exposed to the rudiments of legal practice in legal research, drafting of conveyance agreements and clients advocacy in courts of law.
His independent legal practice at various times saw him work as Junior Counsel in 1996 with Harmony Chambers, owned by D.U Ekumankama and later, Associate Partner in the Law Firm of J. I. Abaagu and Co and Mandala Chambers, Makurdi. He was appointed Company Secretary/ Administrative Manager, Benkims Plastics Company, Makurdi.
He took a part-time lecturing job in 1999 with the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo. And same year, Sen. JKN Waku appointed him Legislative Assistant from 1999 and 2003.
Hon. Barrister Adanyi appreciated in his legal practice tremendously and in less than a decade, established his personal Chamber, known as B. T Adanyi and Co, in Maitama, Abuja, where he was a Principal Partner until 2008.
Former Governor of Benue state; Senator representing Benue North-West (Zone B) in the National Assembly (NASS) and leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the North Central region, Sen. George Akume sighted this epitome of legal brilliance. Again, he appointed him his Senior Legislative Aide.
Having garnered enough experience and national exposure, working closely with renowned political leaders in the state, Adanyi dabbled into full-time partisan politics. So, in 2011, he contested and won elections into the Benue State House of Assembly under the then opposition ACN to represent Makurdi South State Constituency.
While in the State Assembly as first timer, Barrister Adanyi was appointed House Committee Chairman on Culture and Tourism.
Three years later, his colleagues in the state legislature also sighted his leadership dexterity. And in 2014, he was honoured with the position of Minority Leader, where he effectively served until the termination of the Seventh Assembly. He played the leadership role with finesse, watering down very explosive, thorny issues to the amazement of his colleagues’.
He sought re-election into the Makurdi South State constituency in 2015 and again won with a landslide, under the platform of the APC. His second odyssey in the State Assembly saw his incontestable emergence as the Majority Leader, a position he administered for over three years, before the Assembly was plunged into leadership crisis.
Barrister Adanyi is a personality and leader of uncommon humility. A team player, lover of justice and a fearless leader, Adanyi‘s entire life in the parliament has been about his people and how he could better the lot of Benue state through legislations.
Calm and calculated, Adanyi is insightful and exudes a leadership character that aligns with the tenets of equity, fairness and justice. He is guided by the philosophy of equality of humanity in all his dealings. He is de-tribalised, amiable and admired by Benue people. A dogged man of convictions, he is a goal-getter anywhere, he steps his foot in public service.
Agbese wrote this piece from Makurdi
