Recently, there has been unnecessary hullabaloo over the unholy alliances allegedly being clandestinely orchestrated in Abuja, particularly by members of Benue State’s old political order.
The boasting surrounding these political manoeuvres has already filled the air, with their loyalists and hired supporters promoting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, as the “pointman” of the so called “strategic partnership.”
What these disgruntled elements plotting this alliance appear to have forgotten is that the Benue electorate is far wiser today. The average voter is now politically conscious enough to distinguish between genuine leadership and empty political arrangements.
Governor Hyacinth Alia was elected in 2023 because of his integrity, popularity, and the overwhelming goodwill he earned from the people. Since assuming office, he has opened a new chapter in governance that is redefining accountability, good governance, and transformational leadership in the state.
Consequently, the people are prepared to reject individuals whose public records raise serious questions of integrity to those who previously held positions of responsibility but became associated with insatiable desperation for wealth accumulation and political power.
Governor Hyacinth Alia entered into a covenant with the people of Benue State, and he has remained faithful to that covenant. No amount of propaganda or political grandstanding can diminish the strides his administration has recorded.
Curiously, those clandestinely converging to unseat Governor Alia have not challenged him on the grounds of poor performance. Instead, their grievances revolve around personal interests. In the words of Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa of the PDP, the Governor is “eating alone,” while Mathias Byuan of the Labour Party accuses him of “running away with their pot of food.”
Such statements reveal more about the motivations of his critics than about the Governor’s stewardship.
Governor Alia won the 2023 election on the strength of his integrity. Therefore, anyone seeking to challenge him should also be prepared to submit to the same test of integrity. This is particularly true of the preferred candidate of the so-called “strategic partnership,” Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, who once served as Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
During his tenure, Aondoakaa was accused of grossly abusing the powers of that office and subverting the course of justice. On the issue of his integrity, the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, quoted with approval the opinion of the trial judge at page 583:
”The hallowed Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in Nigeria has been gradually desecrated and put into disrepute over the years with the likes of the 2nd Defendant (Aondoakaa) being appointed and occupying it… it is meant for learned eminent members of the Bar and not for political charlatans, jobbers or latter-day praise singers/converts, which this country has been experiencing.
”Gone are the days when this exalted office was occupied by distinguished and reputable gentlemen of the Bar with pedigree like Dr. T.O. Elias, Q.C., who later became the second Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Right Honourable Chief G.C.M. Onyiuke, SAN, Mr. Kehinde Sofola, SAN, and Chief Bola Ige, to mention a few.”
Integrity remains the foundation upon which public trust is built. It fosters confidence between citizens and the institutions that govern them.
Conversely, the abuse of power erodes public confidence, weakens institutions, and creates an environment in which impunity flourishes. The people deserve leaders whose records demonstrate commitment to the public interest rather than personal aggrandisement.
While every qualified citizen has the constitutional right to aspire to the governorship of Benue State, competence without integrity is dangerous. Ability devoid of probity risks turning public office into a vehicle for private enrichment at the expense of the common good.
The Benue electorate is wise enough to scrutinise not only the promises candidates make but also their past conduct, respect for the rule of law, and willingness to be held accountable. These qualities are as important as policy proposals.
Ultimately, the people of Benue will demand unblemished records, independently verifiable credentials, transparency from those promoting such candidates, and a clear explanation of the interests driving these political alliances.
They will do so not merely to secure good governance today, but to safeguard the future prosperity and progress of the state.
Sir Tersoo Kula, mnipr, is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State.
