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Kyado, Yandev – In a solemn ceremony filled with grief and reflection, the remains of Late Deaconess Elizabeth Mku, wife of prominent politician and former governorship aspirant Hon. Mike Mku, were laid to rest on Wednesday at her hometown in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who graced the occasion in person, described the passing of Deaconess Mku as a painful loss not only to her immediate family but to the entire Church and the Jemgbagh extraction of the Tiv nation. Speaking with deep emotion, the governor praised the deceased as a God-fearing woman who lived an impactful Christian life and was now resting in the bosom of the Lord.
The burial provided Governor Alia a platform to extend a strong message of unity to the people of Benue, particularly the Tiv nation. “We are all putting our hands together to reconstruct this state, but some people prefer to deconstruct. That cannot bring us growth, development, or prosperity,” he stated, urging collective effort against elements promoting disunity.
He commended political elders present, including Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Senator Barnabas Gemade, and former Governor Gabriel Suswam, for echoing the same message of peace, and expressed optimism that relative peace was gradually returning to the state despite the security challenges his administration inherited.
Governor Alia further cautioned politicians and citizens, especially those active on social media, against acts of disrespect toward elders and traditional rulers, insisting that such behavior undermines constituted authority and hinders progress. He reassured mourners that his administration remained committed to delivering more dividends of democracy in the coming years and appealed to all sons and daughters of Benue to support the rebuilding process.
In his own remarks, the chief mourner, Hon. Mike Mku, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Alia for honoring his late wife with his presence, describing it as a great honor. He praised the visible developmental strides of the administration and specifically thanked the governor for appointing indigenes of Jemgbagh to key positions. Aligning himself with the call for unity, Hon. Mku urged the people to rally behind the governor to reduce tensions rather than resort to public insults or ridicule. He movingly described his late wife as his strength and source of stability, saying he would dearly miss her.
Other dignitaries, including the Tor Jemgbagh HRH David Afatyo Ajoko, former Governor Gabriel Suswam, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and Senator Barnabas Gemade, also delivered separate remarks, all emphasizing the urgent need for peace and unity for Benue State to move forward.
The well-attended burial ceremony brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, clergymen, and community members in a rare display of solidarity amid the state’s lingering challenges, reinforcing the shared hope that unity remains the surest path to healing and progress.
