Benue: Between Manufactured Crises And The Burden Of Leadership

By Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba

SIR: Since the return to democratic governance in 1999, and more pointedly from 2003, the politics of second-term governorship in Benue State has followed a troubling and predictable pattern. It is a pattern characterized by orchestrated resistance, elite gang-ups, weaponization of insecurity, and the deliberate pollution of public discourse with falsehoods, innuendos, and, at times, outright vulgarity.

This pattern is not new. It has played out, in varying degrees, during the administrations of George Akume, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom. In each case, as the prospect of a second term emerged, strange alliances were forged—often between yesterday’s adversaries—united not by ideology or vision, but by a shared anxiety over access to power and relevance.

In some instances, these tensions escalated beyond rhetoric into dangerous territory, with intimidation and violence becoming tools of political negotiation. Yet, despite these pressures, incumbents who retained the confidence of the people and managed their federal relationships effectively were able to prevail.

What we are witnessing today under the administration of Hyacinth Alia bears striking resemblance to this historical cycle. Once again, we see an emerging coalition of elite interests, deploying familiar tactics—amplifying insecurity, distorting facts, and advancing narratives that are often unsupported by evidence.

Let us be clear: insecurity in Benue State is real. But it is neither new nor peculiar to Benue. It is part of a wider national crisis that requires structural solutions, including the long-overdue reform of Nigeria’s policing architecture. On this, Governor Alia’s advocacy for state police aligns with the thinking of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has consistently shown openness to pragmatic reforms that can secure the nation.

What is both curious and concerning, however, is the tendency of some actors to weaponise this insecurity for political ends, without offering coherent or practical alternatives. It is easy to criticize; it is far more difficult to govern.

Equally perplexing is the vague but persistent allegation that the governor has committed certain “sins” against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and President Tinubu. These accusations are rarely, if ever, clearly articulated. They float in the realm of insinuation—useful for stirring sentiment, but inadequate as a basis for serious political discourse.

One is left to ask: what exactly are these sins? And why are those who allege them reluctant to state them plainly?

President Tinubu, by all indications, is focused on the urgent business of national development and security. He is not known to be distracted by provincial intrigues when substantive governance is at stake. If anything, a governor who demonstrates commitment to reform, alignment with national priorities, and measurable progress on the ground should be seen as an ally, not an adversary.

Governor Alia brings a distinct persona to governance—one shaped not by the rough-and-tumble of traditional politics, but by a moral and clerical calling. This has endowed his administration with a refreshing emphasis on order, prudence, and institutional rebuilding. However, it also presents a challenge: governance in a complex political environment requires not only moral clarity, but also strategic political engagement.

The lesson from Benue’s history is not that opposition is illegitimate—far from it. Opposition is vital in a democracy. The lesson, rather, is that when opposition degenerates into obstruction driven by misinformation and elite anxiety, it ceases to serve the people and instead undermines the very stability upon which development depends.

For the political class in Benue, this is a moment for reflection. The people of the state deserve more than endless cycles of elite contestation. They deserve leadership that is focused, constructive, and anchored in solutions, not distraction.

History will judge not those who shouted the loudest, but those who acted with clarity, courage, and a genuine commitment to the common good.

Benue must rise above the politics of perpetual crisis—and embrace the politics of progress. The time is now for Benue elite to form coalitions of progress instead of networks of resistance and disillusionment. Benue people must not be made pawns on their boards of personal angst.

Let us have compassion on our people who look unto us for enlightenment, not sophistry, and for solution, not confusion.

– Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba, Makurdi, Benue State.