The statement issued by the media aide to Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa is less a genuine critique of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration than a calculated attempt to divert public attention from the credibility crisis surrounding his principal.
Rather than engage the realities of governance in Benue State, the opposition has once again resorted to political grandstanding, hoping that sensational attacks will overshadow facts.
If Chief Aondoakaa wishes to present himself as an authority on governance and public accountability, then his own public record is legitimately open to scrutiny. Those who seek to judge others must also be prepared to have their own stewardship examined.
More importantly, as far as legality is concerned, only a court of competent jurisdiction can make a legitimate pronouncement on the character or culpability of any individual. Political opponents possess neither the constitutional authority nor the moral standing to sit in judgment over others simply because it suits their partisan agenda.
It is therefore a political farce for the desperate opposition to label Governor Hyacinth Alia a failure. Such a verdict is not grounded in facts or objectivity but is driven by partisan bitterness, distorted by political prejudice, and viewed through fabricated lenses with the sole aim to mislead the public.
Governor Alia remains the duly elected Governor of Benue State and continues to justify the confidence reposed in him by the people.
His administration’s performance speaks louder than the rhetoric of his critics, whose arguments consistently collapse under the weight of facts.
Nothing illustrates this contradiction more than the opposition’s claims on insecurity. It is both dishonest and ironic that individuals, who presided over one of the darkest periods in Benue’s security history, now seek to discredit an administration that has made measurable progress in restoring peace.
During their watch, no fewer than 17 of the state’s 23 local government areas were repeatedly devastated by armed attacks, while countless innocent citizens were left helpless.
Under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration led by Samuel Ortom, terrorist attacks became recurring tragedies across Guma, Gwer West, Gwer East, Makurdi, Ohimini, Otukpo, Agatu, Apa, Tarka, Buruku, Kwande, Ukum, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Okpokwu, Gboko, and Ogbadibo. The violence displaced well over two million people, forcing thousands of families into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and leaving entire communities desolate.
Today, through Governor Alia’s security strategy and sustained collaboration with security agencies, the situation has improved considerably. Tarka, Makurdi, Gboko, Buruku, Ogbadibo, and Okpokwu have remained largely free from attacks. Although Guma and Gwer East still record occasional isolated incidents, the frequency and intensity of attacks have reduced significantly. Apa, Agatu, and Ukum are also enjoying relative peace compared to what obtained in the past.
The direct consequence of this improved security is evident in the gradual decongestion of IDP camps, as thousands of displaced families have returned to their ancestral homes to rebuild their lives. While no responsible government would claim that the security challenge has been completely eliminated, no honest observer can deny that substantial progress has been made.
Beyond security, Governor Alia’s developmental strides further expose the emptiness of the opposition’s narrative. In less than three years, his administration has facilitated the establishment of industries, created a new state university, expanded access to higher education by establishing a faculty in another senatorial district, revitalised agriculture, and transformed the infrastructure landscape of Makurdi through the construction of bridges and interchanges. A leader with such tangible accomplishments cannot honestly be described as a failure unless words have been deliberately stripped of their meaning for political convenience.
By contrast, anyone who was entrusted with the sacred responsibility of protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system but whose public service became synonymous with controversy cannot credibly occupy the moral high ground. Public office is remembered not by titles once held but by the legacy those offices produced.
Indeed, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa’s disappointments are already well documented in the public domain. Credibility is not conferred by loud political pronouncements or media attacks; it is earned through integrity, consistency, and an honourable public record. On those measures, Governor Alia stands on firmer ground.
Governor Hyacinth Alia remains firmly on course, steadily fulfilling the mandate freely entrusted to him by the people of Benue State. His achievements continue to speak for themselves, and no amount of propaganda, revisionism, or the political weaponization of insecurity will convince the people of Benue to return to the failures of the past.
Sir Kula, mnipr, is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State.
