Politics
Benue was bleeding, now it’s healing – Governor Alia
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has declared that the state, once overwhelmed by insecurity and mismanagement, is now on a path to healing under his leadership.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Alia reflected on his transition from Catholic priesthood to politics, his administration’s efforts in tackling insecurity, and his unique approach to fiscal discipline.
As he marks 35 years in the priesthood this July, Alia revealed that his decision to enter politics stemmed from a deep understanding of the challenges facing Benue.
“I’ve spent my life serving the people of Benue in the suburbs, understanding their struggles. It wasn’t difficult for me to transition because I was already working to fix problems as a priest,” he said.
Alia said his transition into politics was driven by an urgent desire to bring change. “As a priest, you spend your time supporting people, solving environmental and family problems. Politics was just an extension of that, although with the added responsibility of navigating a complex political environment,” he added.
On the issue of insecurity, the governor delved into the historical context, explaining that Benue’s security challenges are linked to broader regional dynamics. He noted that Benue, like other parts of Nigeria, is facing a deepening crisis caused by the ECOWAS transhumance protocol, which allowed for cross-border grazing.
“When we were growing up, there were no issues with herders. But after the ECOWAS protocol was adopted, things drastically changed,” he explained.
Alia disclosed that as of June 2024, about 500,000 people from 17 of the state’s 23 local governments were displaced due to violence.
“Our people are primarily farmers, but we’ve seen the land grab that accompanies these attacks. This is no longer pastoralism – it is a calculated destabilization,” he said.
He also emphasized that despite the challenges, his government is working to tackle displacement through a three-pronged solution: temporary shelter, integration, and relocation back to ancestral lands.
Alia urged the Federal Government to reconsider Nigeria’s participation in the ECOWAS protocol, calling for a review of the policy that has contributed to insecurity. “If the Federal Government revisits this protocol, it could make a huge difference. We need to fix our internal security first,” he said.
In addressing the state’s finances, Governor Alia revealed his commitment to fiscal transparency, pointing to the consistent payment of salaries on the 25th of each month.
“Before I came in, civil servants and pensioners went without their pay. I inherited N359 billion in debt, but we found a way to make sure workers get their pay on time,” he said, adding that he had implemented a new standard where salaries are paid even on public holidays or weekends.
Despite facing criticism from some quarters, particularly among the political elite, Alia stood firm in his belief that timely salary payments were a necessary reform. “People used to take the fish without learning to fish. Now, they’re learning to be self-reliant, and it’s creating some enemies,” he said.
The governor also reflected on his relationships with the judiciary and his political party, stressing that his administration is committed to transparency and the rule of law. “There have been no issues with the judiciary. We followed due process with the NJC, and any disputes were addressed professionally,” Alia explained.
As he looks towards the future, the governor expressed confidence that his administration’s approach to governance will continue to transform Benue. “It’s about proper planning, strategy, and execution. We’ve brought a new thinking to Benue, and the people are beginning to see the difference,” he concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group as part of steps to deepen collaboration in tackling security challenges in the country.
The composition of the Joint Working Group was part of the agreement reached during the recent trip to Washington, DC, by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Ribadu is to lead the Nigerian side of the Joint Working Group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team comprising senior officials from relevant government establishments.
Members of the Joint Working Group include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard M. Doro, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed and the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the US will serve as the secretariat.
President Tinubu has urged members of the Joint Working Group to work assiduously with their US counterparts to ensure smooth operationalisation of all agreements across sectors.
Politics
AU, ECOWAS, and WAEF Condemn Guinea-Bissau Military Takeover, Demand Restoration of Democratic Order
Election-observation missions from the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) have jointly condemned the military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, calling it a direct assault on the country’s democratic process.
In a strongly worded statement, the observer groups denounced the suspension of the presidential and legislative elections, which had been conducted peacefully on 23 November. They praised the citizens of Guinea-Bissau for their orderly participation and commended electoral officials and security personnel for maintaining professionalism throughout the vote.
The missions described the military intervention as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process,” noting that the takeover occurred while the nation awaited the official announcement of election results. With both leading presidential candidates having pledged to respect the final outcome, observers said the coup threatened to erode confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.
The joint statement also expressed deep concern over the detention of government and electoral officials by the military, urging their immediate release and the swift restoration of constitutional rule. The observers warned that halting the electoral process could reverse years of regional efforts to strengthen political stability and democratic norms in Guinea-Bissau.
Regional and international bodies are now intensifying calls for the reinstatement of civilian authority and the continuation of the electoral process, emphasising the need to safeguard the will of the people at a critical moment in the country’s political trajectory.
Politics
Nnamdi Kanu is in the prison, we should not get angry and it is not issue to use knives, gun or fighting ourselves in order to solve it- Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, has urged the South-East people to use dialogue and peaceful means to address the recent imprisonment of Nnamdi Kanu
She added that the people of the South-East should emulate other zones and learn to solve their challenges “through dialogue and peaceful ways.”
Bianca Ojukwu made the remarks at the 14th edition of the Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Day Celebration held at the Ojukwu Memorial Library, Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday
She noted that although the court of first instance had sentenced Kanu to imprisonment, “all hope are not lost,” adding that through dialogue and peaceful methods, Nnamdi Kanu could be released from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The Ojukwu’s annual memorial day was instituted by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the founder of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASOB
The event is usually attended by Igbo people from the five South-East states and beyond.
During her address, Mrs. Ojukwu called for a minute of silence for the late BBC journalist, Mr. Frederick Forsyth, “who resigned her job to cover all things that happened during the 1967 to 1970 Biafra and Nigeria civil war.”
She said, “Nnamdi Kanu is in the prison, we should not get angry and it is not issue to use knives, gun or fighting ourselves in order to solve it”
“This coming Christmas, all of us should endeavour to meet with our National Assembly members and our governors, ask them the way forward to ensure that Kanu is freed from the prison”
“Also, all of us should come together, plan ourselves on how to use peaceful means to settle this matter, we should plan how to meet with President Bola Tinubu and amicably resolve this matter.”
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