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In a strongly worded opinion published in The Nation Newspaper on March 24, 2026, Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba has criticised the recurring pattern of political opposition in Benue State, describing it as a predictable cycle of resistance, elite gang-ups, and weaponisation of insecurity whenever a governor seeks a second term.
According to the Makurdi-based professor, since the return to democratic governance in 1999 and more pointedly from 2003, the politics of second-term governorship in Benue has followed a troubling pattern characterised by orchestrated resistance, the formation of strange alliances between former adversaries, and the deliberate pollution of public discourse with falsehoods, innuendos, and sometimes outright vulgarity.
Prof. Shilgba noted that this pattern played out during the administrations of George Akume, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, where elite interests united not by ideology but by anxiety over access to power. He argued that similar dynamics are now visible under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, with some actors allegedly amplifying insecurity, distorting facts, and advancing narratives unsupported by evidence.
While acknowledging that insecurity in Benue is real and part of a wider national crisis, the professor stressed that it requires structural solutions, including police reforms, an area where Governor Alia’s advocacy for state police aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s thinking.
He cautioned against the tendency to weaponise insecurity for political ends without offering coherent alternatives, describing it as far easier to criticise than to govern. Prof. Shilgba also expressed perplexity at the vague and persistent allegations of “sins” committed by Governor Alia against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and President Tinubu, noting that such accusations are rarely clearly articulated and often float in the realm of insinuation.
Governor Alia, he observed, brings a distinct persona to governance shaped by a moral and clerical calling, emphasising order, prudence, and institutional rebuilding. The professor urged the Benue political class to rise above the politics of perpetual crisis and embrace the politics of progress, forming coalitions of development rather than networks of resistance.
“History will judge not those who shouted the loudest, but those who acted with clarity, courage, and a genuine commitment to the common good,” he wrote.
Prof. Shilgba appealed for compassion towards the people of Benue who look to their leaders for enlightenment and solutions, not confusion. He concluded that the time has come for the state’s elite to prioritise measurable progress on the ground over endless cycles of elite contestation.
The article, culled from the Editor’s Mail Bag on page 24 of The Nation Newspaper, reflects growing calls for constructive political engagement in Benue State as the 2027 elections draw nearer.
