The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hyacinth Alia

  • PAP: Critics misread Alia’s remarks on Benue crisis

    PAP: Critics misread Alia’s remarks on Benue crisis

    The Pathfinder Arewa Project (PAP) has said the outrage trailing Governor Hyacinth Alia’s refusal to characterise the killings in Benue State as “genocide against Christians” stems largely from misinterpretation and an overheated political climate.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna, PAP Chairman, Abdulhamid Jakadan, said the governor’s comments, widely criticized by political opponents and interest groups—were anchored on the need for accuracy in language and responsible governance.

    Jakadan explained that Alia’s position was guided by what he called “the central importance of accurate diagnosis,” stressing that mislabelling the conflict could worsen an already fragile situation.

    Read Also: Akpabio files fresh N200bn defamation suit against Natasha

    Alia had told participants at a National Human Rights Commission consultative forum in Abuja on November 20 that while Benue faced serious security challenges, the crisis did not amount to genocide against Christians. The remarks drew immediate backlash, with critics accusing him of insensitivity.

    But PAP insisted that those interpreting the killings as genocide “failed to understand the heavy implications of applying the genocide label.”

    It noted that the term carries significant legal, moral and diplomatic consequences.

    “The word genocide invokes international instruments, attracts global scrutiny, and imposes obligations on states to investigate, prosecute, provide reparations and resettle victims. It is not a term for rhetorical flourish,” the statement said.

    Jakadan maintained that the governor’s caution was not an attempt to downplay the suffering in the state, but a call for precision in a complex security environment.

  • My remarks on genocide misunderstood – Alia

    My remarks on genocide misunderstood – Alia

    Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia has explained that his remarks  at a function organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on October 19, 2025 in Abuja was misunderstood and interpreted .

    A statement by Commissioner for information and Orientation, Dr. Peter Egbodo, explained  ” For the avoidance of doubt, the Governor’s statement was neither an attempt to downplay the painful realities on ground nor a dismissal of the grief of families who have lost their loved ones.

    ” His Excellency is fully aware of the weight of every life lost in Benue State, and he continues to treat the security challenges confronting the State with the urgency and seriousness they demand.

    ” It is important to emphasise that the Governor’s clarification that the killings should not be defined or framed purely along religious line, was made in the interest of accurate reporting, responsible public discourse, and effective response.

    ” Misdiagnosing the nature of the crisis may hinder the multi-sectoral solutions already being implemented.

    ” What His Excellency sought to communicate is that the conflict is complex, involving criminality, land-use tensions, and targeted acts of violence that require strategic, intelligence-driven interventions beyond religious categorization.

    Read Also: Capital market turnover hits N10tr

    ” His position does not, in any way, make the Government indifferent to the pain of Christian communities, or any other community affected by these heinous attacks.

    ” On the contrary, the Governor remains profoundly concerned about the safety and dignity of all residents, including Christians, Muslims, traditional believers, and every law-abiding citizen.

    ” For some times now, the Governor has  Intensified collaboration with security agencies to strengthen response capacity; supported displaced communities with relief and resettlement efforts; advocated at National and International levels for enhanced security presence; and initiated long-term strategies to tackle the root causes of violence in Benue.

    ” Governor  continues to mourn with the bereaved, visit affected areas, and mobilize all levers of government to restore peace.

    “The Administration fully acknowledges the trauma of communities bearing the brunt of these attacks, and remains committed to protecting every life—without bias and without exception.

    “We therefore urge the public to interpret the Governor’s comments in the broader context of his unwavering dedication to securing Benue State.

    ” This Government stands firmly with the people and will not relent until the cycle of violence is brought to a complete end”.

  • GAC backs Alia, urges Benue residents to support APC-led govt

    GAC backs Alia, urges Benue residents to support APC-led govt

    Political leaders in the Southwest have thrown their weight behind Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.

    They urged residents of the state to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration at the national and state levels.

    The Southwest leaders, under the auspices of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), also praised the governor on security measures his government deployed to tackle the menace of insecurity in the state.

    Also, GAC hailed the governor on the pace of his administration’s infrastructural development across the Northcentral state.

    The Southwest group spoke in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when its members paid a condolence visit to the state on the killing of over 200 people in the Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area.

    The Benue community was reportedly attacked by suspected herdsmen, leading to numerous deaths, with several others injured and displaced.

    In its assessment of the security breach, the GAC, led by its chairman, Prince Tajudeen Olùsi, expressed satisfaction with how Governor Alia and his team responded and handled the unsavory situation.

    To the GAC, the state government could not have done better in how it handled both the medical and the political outcome of the attack.

    The delegation also visited the survivors of the attack undergoing treatment at the Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had visited Benue on the heels of the deadly attack and directed security agencies to urgently gather actionable intelligence to flush out the armed herdsmen responsible for the dastardly act.

    Addressing leaders and members of the Yelwata community, Olusi, who consoled with them, stated that GAC shared in their pains.

    The elder statesman assured the community that the highest body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos would support every effort to restore peace in the area.

    He said the visit, which was in solidarity with the APC-led administration of the Benue State governor, was intended to comfort the families of the deceased, the victims, and the survivors.

    According to him, this became necessary to reassure those affected by the attack and the state that they were not alone during this trying time.

    Read Also: Solar Energy: A Game-Changer in Tackling Food Inflation in Nigeria and Africa at large

    “The Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), a top organ of the Lagos APC, is here in solidarity with the APC administration of your hardworking governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to console with you and assure you that we feel your pains. We will also support all efforts to restore security and rekindle hope.

    “We also appeal to you to keep faith with the administration of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was here in Benue to condole with you and gave directives to the security agencies to fish out the culprits and restore security so that you can go about your normal businesses. The mother of the nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was here too to bring succour to you.

    “Your governor, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is also doing his best in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the APC-led government to make you more secured and comfortable,”Olusi said.

    At the Adasu University Teaching Hospital, the delegation sympathised with the victims undergoing treatment and recuperating, and wished them a quick recovery.

    The delegation also inspected the high-level roundabout underpass in Makurdi and other infrastructural development projects embarked upon by the Alia administration.

    The Olusi-led GAC delegation lauded Governor Alia’s giant strides in Benue State, almost surpassing previous administrations in just two years.

    The group urged the residents to continue to support him to do more.

  • Alia hosts Ikpambese, as signs of peace between Benue executives and judicial branches emerge

    Alia hosts Ikpambese, as signs of peace between Benue executives and judicial branches emerge

    Governor Hyacinth Alia and Benue Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, have seemingly put their differences aside.

    Previously, there was a rift between the two, which led to a petition initiated by the Attorney-General’s office against Justice Ikpambese for alleged gross misconduct and financial impropriety.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s population can be a viable asset if properly managed, says Oyebanji

    The Benue State House of Assembly deliberated on the petition and recommended the suspension of Justice Ikpambese, referring the matter to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further investigation and discipline. The allegations against Justice Ikpambese included misappropriation of judicial funds and altering the Benue Local Government Election Petition Law.

    During the crisis, tension enveloped the state, with youths allegedly backed by the Executive blocking the entrance to the High Court complex, preventing Justice Ikpambese, litigants, lawyers, and court officials from accessing the courts.

  • Alia appoints eight new commissioners

    Alia appoints eight new commissioners

    Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has transmitted the first batch of commissioner-nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation in line with constitutional provisions.

    The Governor’s spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

    According to him, the “development marks a significant step in enhancement of the machinery of governance and ensuring effective service delivery across various sectors.”

    He noted that the “second batch of nominees is expected to be forwarded to the House of Assembly in a matter of days”.

    Read Also: Koroma, Mutfwang laud Stanley Uzochukwu’s humanitarian impacts in Nigeria

    The nominees in the first batch include: Theresa Odachi Ikwue, Dr. Benjamin Ashaver, Dr. Adamu Margaret Ijaguwa, Dr. Peter Oboh Egbodo, Dr. Yangien Timothy Ornguga, Denis Iyaighgba, James Dwem and Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche.

    The governor had on Wednesday dissolved the state executive council, retaining only the office of Chief of Staff, which is now occupied by the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister. Moses Atagher.

  • Local cover

    Local cover

    Father Hyacinth Alia, the governor of Benue State, has been bellyaching over the virtual impossibility of enforcing his state’s anti-grazing law, speaking through Kula Tersoo, his chief press secretary.

    Whereas the Benue State Protection Guards (the corps propelled by law to enforce the abolition of open grazing within Benue territory) carry Dane guns, the criminal segment of herders, who push their murderous right to carry arms, trot all over the place, their cattle in tow, bearing AK-47 and AK-49 rifles.

    Though his own basic headache is bandits that sack remote villages — not necessarily killer herdsmen — Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State just pivoted down to a solution similar to Governor Alia’s: federating licit lethal arms.

    “We support the establishment of state police.  Fully.” He just told Channels TV in a live interview. “Without it,” he insisted, “we cannot equip our officers adequately to fight bandits using AK-47s, while we’re limited to pump-action rifles.  If we had state police two years ago, this issue would likely to be history.”

    The governor then pushed his model and vision of state police, referencing the recruitment and structure of the Katsina Community Watch Corps: “These officers are from the same communities under attack, and they know the terrain more than anyone.”

    What’s left?  Upgrading the calibre of arms and ammo lawfully at their disposal to face the security hazard confronting them.  Again, that’s federalising licit arms, within a vast federal territory.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s history incomplete without ex-president, says Ohanaeze

    But why is that simple logic so difficult to implement, to the mutual gain of everyone, including the last bastion of resistance in the current omnibus central police?  Because the message is often entangled with too much noise.

    Back to the Alia no-grazing headache in Benue.  These are clear criminals: the so-called herdsmen militia.  If they are herdsmen — a honest, honourable and legitimate trade — they can’t be militia.  In any case, not wholesale.  That would be a contradiction in terms: a honest guild of herdsmen can’t double as wholesale band of criminals.

    So, by separating the few criminal herders from the majority law-abiding ones, we can rid the criminals of the comfort zone of cynical appeal to clannish support, to carry on crime.  That way, the concept of ranching and its many benefits can become progressively sweeter to the ear of the traditional Fulani, even the simple minds that innocently — though ignorantly — claim grazing is a legacy they must continue with.

    If everyone agrees on ranching, the need for armed anti-grazing corps would vanish — and pastoralists will enjoy a new lease of peace and prosperity.

    But that might not completely eliminate insecurity in Nigeria’s far-flung places — and again, back to Benue and media reportage.  The governor called the Benue corps Protection Guards.  The Punch headlined them “Forest Guards”.

    Now, Forest Guards are a new central initiative — to root out bandits and allied terrorists from their forested bastions.  But states insist the concept is best implemented by states, recruiting home boys that know their vicinity inside out.

    In other words, for the Forest Guards to get the best of results, the concept must embrace the Katsina/Benue model of local cover. But without a law upgrading arms available to them — which the central authorities must midwife — it would be another gory tale of AK-47 versus Dane guns.

    So, it’s all back to the concept of federalising licit arms in securing a vast territory.  It’s a contrary concept to the extant practice: strengthening local cover for over all better security, against centralising the security forces but leaving far-flung areas to the mercy of criminal herdsmen, bandits and terrorists.

    The simplest manifestation of this not-so-new philosophy is state police, an idea which time has come, given the present security meltdown.

    Even then, state police is only the face.  Other centrally generated security concepts, as Forest Guards, would have to draw from the bottom-up “local cover” philosophy,  that not only secures the periphery but also assures the centre.

  • Governor Alia should prioritise security

    Governor Alia should prioritise security

    Sir: Despite ongoing development efforts under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, a harsh reality persists: insecurity in Benue State is escalating, and it threatens to undermine every stride made in infrastructure, agriculture, and social welfare.

    From community development projects to policy reforms, Alia has shown a clear drive to uplift the state. Many, including myself, recognise his zeal and achievements. In fact, even at this early stage of his tenure, one could begin to draw parallels between Alia and past icons like Aper Aku and Moses Adasu. His chances of re-election are high, and that is no surprise; his popularity remains strong, especially among those who believe in his vision.

    But popularity is not enough. Progress cannot thrive where fear reigns.

    The sad truth is that the security situation in Benue has worsened, and the roots of this crisis are not just external. There is growing evidence that some of the violence is sponsored and instigated from within, by political actors, vested interests, and even some elements considered part of the native fabric of the state. Yet, silence surrounds these revelations, especially when those implicated are politically connected.

    Benue people are being killed, displaced, and silenced—while development projects are being unveiled elsewhere. We must ask: who benefits from this progress if the beneficiaries are no longer alive or free to enjoy it?

    Read Also: Tuggar expresses Nigeria’s readiness to host WAES

    Governor Alia must recognise that the office of the governor is not a ceremonial extension of power, it is a mandate of protection. The seat demands more than governance; it demands guardianship. No matter how stiff the resistance, he must confront the forces behind the killings and chaos, whether or not they wear party colors.

    History gives us lessons to follow. Sir Ahmadu Bello once ceded federal authority to Tafawa Balewa in order to give undivided attention to the North. That sacrifice was not a sign of weakness, it was a mark of true leadership.

    Likewise, Governor Alia must rise above party loyalty and political diplomacy where the lives of citizens are concerned. He must represent the interest of the Benue people at all costs.

    Benue deserves both peace and progress. The governor has the vision, now, he must summon the courage to fight for the safety and dignity of every citizen.

    •David Tersoo Heke,hekedave@gmail.com

  • Akume not silent on Benue killings, SGF’s aide counters Alia’s claim

    Akume not silent on Benue killings, SGF’s aide counters Alia’s claim

    The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has accused Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia of attempting to manipulate public sentiment against SGF George Akume by making “deliberate and unfortunate” insinuations in a recent media appearance.

    The reaction followed the Governor’s appearance on Channels Television where he alleged that the SGF and his associates had not spoken out on the worsening insecurity in the Sankera axis of Benue State. 

    Governor Alia also claimed he possessed a report from a state-appointed panel that allegedly indicts certain individuals based in Abuja for sponsoring the violence.

    In a statement over the weekend by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs in the SGF’s office, the federal official refuted the governor’s insinuations, describing them as misguided and misleading.

    Read Also: Nigerians must look beyond short-term hardship -DOJ

    “If the Governor of Benue State has expected that the SGF would be seen in the media discussing the efforts he has been making in that regard, then it betrays either a lack of understanding of governmental administrative procedure, or he is deliberately and unfortunately seeking to manipulate public sentiments against the SGF,” the statement reads.

    The SGF’s office emphasised that Senator Akume has been “deeply involved” in the fight against insecurity, within and beyond the bounds of his constitutional responsibilities, and that such interventions have been channeled appropriately through the Federal Executive Council.

    “As a member of the Federal Security Council, His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia very well understands how the Federal Executive Council functions, and how it is through its channels of communication and administrative action, in which the SGF is centrally involved, that several security interventions have been made to Benue State,” the statement added.

    The SGF’s team further defended lawmakers from Benue State whom Governor Alia allegedly labeled as “cronies” of Senator Akume, noting their consistent efforts to spotlight Benue’s security crisis on the floor of the National Assembly.

    “Distinguished Senators Titus Zam and Emmanuel Udende, as well as members of the House of Representatives from Benue State, have been most vociferous on the floor of the NASS in calling attention to issues of insecurity in Benue State.

    “These efforts have resulted in motions that have gotten the attention and action of the Federal Executive Council,” Kuanum said.

    Addressing the Governor’s remarks about the yet-to-be-released panel report, the SGF’s office stressed that due process demands such documents be vetted and transformed into a White Paper before being considered an official government position. 

    “But since His Excellency the Governor has chosen, perhaps as a result of how burning the issue is, to let the cat out of the bag before the administrative procedure, we urge him to make good on his word and expose those involved,” the statement urged.

    It challenged the Governor to forward the names of those indicted in the report to both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Security Council, adding that preemptive public accusations without administrative backing could carry national security implications.

    “The Governor must understand that his allegations and preemptive indictment of the persons so fingered now carry the weight of national security concern and must be treated as such,” the SGF’s office stated.

    The statement also advised Governor Alia to adopt a more inclusive and transparent approach to combating insecurity, particularly by engaging with local communities.

    “Such an approach will help to shape for His Excellency a consistent position regarding the crisis—such as whether it is foreign terrorists, Benue people themselves or whoever is responsible—thereby eradicating his seeming confusion as to who actually is responsible,” the statement added.

    Despite the pointed response, the SGF reiterated his commitment to supporting peace efforts in Benue State and elsewhere. 

    “Senator George Akume remains committed to the best interests of Benue State and the well-being of the people and is doing everything in his official and private capacity to ensure the eradication of insecurity,” it stated.

    Kuanum  ended the statement with a note of reconciliation, expressing prayers for the governor’s continued strength and guidance in navigating the state’s challenges.

  • Oche appreciates Alia for standing by Benue council bosses

    Oche appreciates Alia for standing by Benue council bosses

    Chairman of Ado Local Government Area Council Engr Sunny Oche has thanked Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia for supporting the 23 elected chairmen and councillors in Benue. 

    In a statement, Oche praised Alia for firmly standing by the local government leaders during their legal battle to reaffirm their mandates. 

    He described the Governor as a protective leader who shielded them from the turbulence of Benue’s political arena.

    He was reacting to the recent ruling by the Benue State Local Government Election Appeal Panel, which convened at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) House in Abuja. 

    On June 3, 2025, the appellate tribunal affirmed the elections of all 23 APC chairmen, including Oche. 

    The panel dismissed the petitions filed against them for lack of merit—an outcome that not only reinforced the legitimacy of the local government leadership but also underscored Governor Alia’s steadfast commitment to democratic governance at the grassroots level.

     Oche emphasised that the Governor’s support has inspired renewed determination among the chairmen to work diligently toward his re-election in 2027. 

    Read Also: Land Republic backs top Nigerian students in medicine, engineering, science

    He noted that Alia’s defence of their mandates reflects his loyalty to the people of Benue, who freely and fairly elected their local leaders. 

    He also commended the Governor’s transformative policies—ranging from efficient resource management to major infrastructural development—which have revitalized the state’s economy and improved living standards.

    “Now that the legal disputes have been resolved,” Oche said, “it is time to fully focus on governance. We must strengthen our commitment and redouble our efforts to serve the people at the grassroots, and uplift their standard of living to new heights.”

    He further stated that following their victory at the Appeal Panel, he and his councillors in Ado are eager to continue aligning their grassroots governance with Governor Alia’s broader reforms across the state.

     “We share a vision of progress, transparency, and service to the people,” Oche affirmed. 

    He not only acknowledged the Governor’s inspirational leadership but also reaffirmed the collective resolve of Benue’s local government officials to fulfil their promises, support the Governor’s re-election bid in 2027, and work toward a brighter future for the state.

  • Alia rejects SAN’s emergency rule call in Benue

    Alia rejects SAN’s emergency rule call in Benue

    Governor Hyacinth Alia has rejected the call by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sabastine Hon, for emergency rule in Benue State over worsening insecurity.

    He said the SAN’s letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amounted to playing local politics with serious issues of insecurity.

    The governor, through his spokesman Sir Kulas Tersoo, described Hon’s call as “hypocrisy and shallowness”.

    He said Hon, also a professor of law, contradicted himself and drifted “into laughable reasoning”.

    “This is pure hypocrisy and shallowness, to put it pleasantly.

    “It was clear that the SAN, unlike his contemporaries in the legal profession who knows so much and champion noble causes on national platforms as the nation’s conscience…, Professor Sabastine has chosen the narrow path of local politics and vicious attention or relevance.

    “It is unfortunate that instead of confronting national injustices or upholding constitutional integrity, he has opted to politicise even the bloodshed of his own people obviously for cheap political relevance,” the governor said.

    The statement reads in part: “The ‘erudite’ professor acknowledged that the security situation in Benue is worsening.

    “But before one could agree with him and also align his logic with his prestigious title, he stumbled upon his own thoughts and accused the Governor of Benue State of being uninterested in achieving peace.

    “The notorious fact here is that Gov. Alia has implemented several measures to tackle insecurity in the state with such efforts that reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted nature of insecurity in Benue.

    “The governor has consistently advocated for enhanced community policing, encouraging local involvement in security matters to improve trust and cooperation between residents and law enforcement.

    Reads Also: Why we established new varsity -Alia

    “His administration has continued working closely with various security agencies, including the police and military, to strengthen their presence and effectiveness in the state.

    “New security outposts have been established in strategic locations to provide quicker responses to incidents and enhance surveillance.

    “He has emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing among security agencies and communities to preempt and mitigate threats.

    “Alia has shown support for local vigilante groups, providing them with the necessary resources and training to complement the efforts of conventional security in maintaining peace and order.

    “Suffice then to ask: is it that Professor Sebastine’s memory failed him for a moment? Did he forget that the very president to whom he addressed his Facebook petition is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces?

    “And just when one might excuse that lapse as an error, the professor eagerly informed his readers that he had written a joint letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the State Security Services detailing the failings of military and paramilitary operations in the state.

    “Strangely, despite recognising the President as C-in-C, the professor turned around and pinned the blame for federal security failings on the state governor.

    “How can a professor be this illogical and funny? Does the governor command the army and federal security outfits?

    “The good professor, in a staggering attempt to score political points, clung to an old video from the early phase of recent attacks where the governor referred to the situation then as skirmishes.

    “The professor brandished this outdated footage as breaking news. One wonders if he is out of touch with current realities, or simply playing mischief to please his ‘mallams’ in Abuja…”