A former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Orkuma Adzua Ikyur Madah, has declared that the party no longer enjoys the confidence of the Benue electorate and must first seek the people’s forgiveness rather than campaign for another opportunity to govern the state. Madah, who currently serves as Principal Special Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Forestry and Logging, made the remarks in a Facebook post reflecting on the PDP’s years in power.
He stated that the people of Benue have not forgotten the hardships experienced under the previous PDP administration and likened the party’s situation to the biblical story of the prodigal son. “On behalf of my former party, the PDP, I write to tell the people of Benue that what the PDP needs today is your forgiveness not to present itself as a spotless virgin deserving another chance to govern,” Madah wrote. He argued that true reconciliation can only begin when political leaders openly acknowledge past shortcomings instead of attempting to rewrite history, insisting that repentance requires humility and acceptance of responsibility rather than a demand to return to power.
Political commentator and Alia administration supporter Mr. Orseer Mnzughulga threw his weight behind Madah’s position, describing the immediate past PDP government under former Governor Samuel Ortom as “a monumental disappointment.” Mnzughulga cited unfulfilled promises, including the widely publicised Cargo Airport project that generated media attention but failed to deliver expected infrastructure. He also recalled recurring floods that submerged parts of Makurdi, alleging that rather than pursuing lasting engineering solutions, officials often resorted to symbolic visits in rain boots, which he described as an insult to affected residents. According to him, the former governor had at different times attributed the flooding solution to dredging the River Benue or suggested the scale of the disaster was beyond the state’s capacity.
In contrast, Mnzughulga said Governor Hyacinth Alia has, within less than three years, demonstrated that the challenge was not insurmountable through practical interventions. These include the construction and rehabilitation of major drainage systems across Makurdi, the channelisation of the Idye flood corridor into the River Benue, extensive desilting works, and the development of several kilometres of concrete drainage canals designed to improve stormwater evacuation and reduce perennial flooding. He stated that these measures have significantly mitigated flooding in many parts of the state capital and form part of a broader transformation across road infrastructure, urban renewal, agriculture, healthcare and education that has strengthened public confidence in the present government. “The difference between the two administrations is visible to every resident of Benue. The people can compare promises with performance and decide for themselves. That is why the PDP is finding it increasingly difficult to reconnect with the electorate,” he said, urging the former ruling party to abandon attempts to reinvent itself without first apologising for its stewardship.
