Insecurity: SAVE BENUE BEFORE THE STATE COLLAPSES UNDER ALIA
By James Yagah
What you are about to read is the true situation of Benue State under Governor Hyacinth Alia. This write-up has nothing to do with politics. It is a wake-up call to save our state from collapse. Read the piece with an open mind.
The real story of the current problems in all facets of Benue State under the supposed priest Hyacinth Alia is such that if anything is not done urgently to salvage the situation, the state is gradually going down. Insecurity is at its peak, and there is no due process in government business.
The height of maladministration, neglect, and impunity under Governor Alia is unprecedented.
Governor Alia is not accessible even to his SSG, Chief of Staff, Attorney General, Principal Private Secretary, and all his Security Advisers. No one sees him. The other one who is the Special Adviser to Governor Alia on Internal Security known as Joseph Har, despite coming to Benue from Port Harcourt where he was doing very well is now idle, inactive, and frustrated. Alia does not fund his office the same way the governor has refused to fund the numerous other bureaus and agencies he has created. The security advisers don’t even see the governor, let alone discuss security matters with him.
The other security adviser, known as Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan, who is the Director General of Homeland Security, is as frustrated as Joseph Har. Gbamwuan had to lie on national television, claiming that Benue is very safe and that there are no killings anywhere in the state.
DUPLICATION OF OFFICES
What is the difference between Homeland Security and Internal Security? Governor Alia created the Homeland Security in addition to the Internal Security only to duplicate offices and draw more funds for himself from the state accounts in the name of security votes. The two offices mean the same thing. Is homeland not the same as internal?
That is the sad situation Benue has found itself in under this mistake of 2023 called Hyacinth Alia!
DECEPTION & HYPOCRISY
On December 14, 2024, Governor Alia performed the inauguration of Civil Protection Guards at IBB Square in Makurdi. It will surprise you to know that Alia’s claim that he recruited Civil Protection Guards was another false story. His government simply renamed the existing vigilante in the state.
The questions to ask are: Where are the uniforms of the Civil Protection Guards? Which new ammunition have they been given aside what was there before Alia came? Nothing has been added – both uniforms and weapons, despite the merger of community volunteer guards with livestock guards to form civil protection guards. But billions are being taken monthly from government accounts by the governor in the guise of funding the Civil Protection Guards.
On the day of the launch at IBB Square, a number of Toyota Hilux vehicles were displayed with the inscription “Anyam Nyor.” But what most Benue people did not know was that the display of these vehicles was another fake story cooked up by Governor Alia and his inner circle. Many of the Hilux vehicles were taken from the INEC office in Makurdi, and the others came from the 23 local government areas. The rest were hired from car dealers solely for the purpose of displaying them before television cameras and were returned to their owners after the event. That is why Anyam Nyor patrol vehicles are nowhere to be seen in Benue State today!
The acclaimed 100 Hilux vehicles and 600 motorcycles were displayed at IBB Square that day have not been given to security agencies or the Civil Protection Guards.
ANYAM NYOR & ZENDA
Benue State has had a joint security operation on the ground for many years called Operation Zenda, established by the Gabriel Suswam government. Zenda comprises the Military, DSS, Police, and Civil Defense. Alia knew that Zenda is still in operation but still went ahead to announce the “formation” of Anyam Nyor, which also claims to include the Military, DSS, Police, and Civil Defense.
What is the difference between Zenda and Anyam Nyor? How different are they? The truth is, there are no two security outfits. Anyam Nyor exists only on paper while Zenda exists in reality, but the governor has since stopped funding it Zenda.
Governor Alia claims to be funding two separate security outfits – Zenda and Anyam Nyor, in addition to Civil Protection Guards. This is why he has been taking N3 billion every month from the state coffers under the guise of security votes.
Whenever Alia is alerted about attacks and killings in any part of the state, he gives no indication of concern. If the person alerting him is fortunate, he listens for a few minutes before switching his attention to something more personal and more important to him – women and other pleasures.
Governor Alia’s Deputy, Samuel Ode, often waits for hours and rarely gets to see the governor. The deputy governor has been seen dozing off many times while waiting for a chance to speak with Alia. The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has experienced similar delays; he often waits for hours and ends up not seeing the “busiest governor in Nigeria,” Alia.
The only two men who can see governor Alia at any given moment are one Ternenge and one Livinus. These men are considered supermen by Alia. Alia listens only to those two men. They can sack any appointee at any time they deem necessary. The Chief of Staff, Paul Biam, is frequently seen begging the two men to make way for him to see the governor.
The two men can even walk into the State Executive Council meeting, drag the governor out for an “urgent discussion,” or request that the meeting be adjourned. No one dares oppose them – not even the governor’s security guards. During a particular Security Council meeting, which Alia was presiding over (something he does reluctantly), Livinus walked into the meeting and took his seat. No one uttered a word of disapproval. Later, he was heard bragging about his influence with some of his friends. That’s how powerful those two men are.
Alia is in Eldorado with the two men who provide him with “protection” and pleasure.
Since May 30, 2023, all government accounts have remained frozen under the directive of Governor Alia. Only the governor operates the accounts and spends from them as he pleases.
The governor has effectively turned state resources into his private wealth and has been spending them as he sees fit.
There has been no adherence to the Public Procurement Act (Due Process Law). Even the Director General of the state Bureau of Public Procurement confirmed this when she appeared before the House of Assembly recently.
There has been non-disclosure of Benue State Local Government allocations from FAAC allocations in two years.
Governor Alia has not only turned local government resources to his personal use; he has diverted a staggering N40 billion from local government allocations only in the last six months.
Hyacinth Alia is a disaster that has befallen Benue State. The state needs to be saved!
