By: Terver Akase
A recent press statement from the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, dedicated 95% of its content to criticizing the immediate past Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, regarding the humanitarian crisis in the state. Instead of addressing the insecurity and plight of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) as promised, the statement veered into blame games and overused narratives targeting the previous administration.
Governor Alia needs to be reminded of his commitment to returning IDPs to their ancestral homes within his first 100 days in office. During his campaign, he highlighted the security challenges in the state as a key issue and made numerous promises to address them swiftly. As a gubernatorial candidate, he claimed that solving Benue’s security problems was straightforward and accused Chief Ortom of mishandling the situation for political advantage.
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A Call for Pragmatic Solutions
Now that Governor Alia has realized that tackling insecurity is far more complex than he anticipated, it’s time to seek expert advice and collaborative solutions. Security is a collective responsibility, and no administration holds all the answers. Engaging stakeholders and leveraging federal allocations to combat insecurity effectively is imperative. Grandstanding in the media and asserting relative peace in Benue will not resolve the persistent challenges.
The Alia administration should avoid scapegoating and focus on practical strategies. The affected communities, grappling with frequent attacks, loss of loved ones, and displacement, deserve actionable plans, not empty rhetoric. Many Benue communities remain inaccessible due to banditry, with residents needing permission from herders to access their farms—a dire situation requiring immediate intervention.
Accountability and the Path Forward
With the increased resources at the state’s disposal—four times higher than previous allocations due to fuel subsidy removal—Governor Alia is expected to deliver results. However, since assuming office on May 29, 2023, there has been little transparency or accountability regarding resource management. While the administration is quick to criticize its predecessor, it avoids addressing pertinent questions about its stewardship of state resources.
The Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017, enacted during Governor Ortom’s administration, remains a significant effort to address insecurity, reflecting the people’s demand to ban open grazing. Instead of suspending this law, Governor Alia’s government should focus on implementing policies that genuinely enhance security and well-being in the state.
Fulfilling Promises
Governor Alia has an opportunity to deliver where his predecessor could not. If he believes Chief Ortom’s administration failed, he must rise to the occasion and fulfill his promises to end insecurity and improve governance in Benue. The people expect action, not excuses.
Hon. Terver Akase served as the Chief Press Secretary to the former governor of Benue State, Chief (Dr) Samuel Ortom until his resignation in 2023 to aspire for the position of the executive governor of Benue state under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.
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