Urgent! WAKE UP BENUE PEOPLE, GOVERNOR ALIA HAS SOLD OUR LAND TO FULANI
…As First Benue Emir Is Appointed
We stand at a critical juncture in our history as the people of this state. Recent developments have cast a dark shadow over our beloved homeland, revealing a deliberate and orchestrated effort to undermine our sovereignty and strip us of our ancestral lands. The appointment of Fulanis to prominent traditional and political positions, exemplified by the recent appointment of Alhaji Rabiu Alhassan as Wakilin Benue by the Emir of Lafia, is not an isolated incident but a clear indication of a deeper agenda to establish Fulanis’ influence within Benue State.
It must be emphasized that the man who is the arrowhead of this deliberate attempt to hand Benue lands to Fulani is no other than Governor Hyacinth Alia whom the Fulanis used billions of naira to bankroll his campaign in 2023. Alia took an oath not only to protect Fulani but to also help them to take over the land.
The appointment of Wakilin Benue, made in Lafia, an event attended by dignitaries including Governor Alia’s representatives and marked by the highest traditional honour, serves as a dreadful warning. It signals an encroachment on our land, our culture, and our future. When foreign interests begin to place their representatives and influence within our territory, it signifies an impending takeover, a deliberate strategy to weaken our identity and sovereignty.
It has been a long and tortuous battle against Fulani invasion of communities in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, and especially Benue State. The pastoralists who are great grandchildren of Shehu Usman dan Fodio, a Fulani Islamic religious leader who wanted to conquer Nigeria but was halted in Benue State by our forefathers, for some years now have been trying to capture us (the people of the North Central region) who are predominantly Christian and farmers.
Fulani terrorists have killed thousands of people and displaced millions in Benue people and neighbouring states of the North Central. There has been a conspiracy of silence in government. The current government of Benue State has been silent in the face of the atrocities committed by Fulani herders. In fact, Governor Alia is always the first to defend Fulani and blame us – his people as the ones killing our own.
We must understand that land is the foundation of our heritage, our livelihood, and our future. The recent actions and appointments of emirs and ardos in Benue State by Fulanis under the will approval and support of Governor Alia are not mere coincidences; they are part of a calculated plan to gradually take control of our land and resources. The alarming reality is that these Fulanis, through strategic appointments and traditional leverage, are positioning themselves to dominate Benue’s socio-cultural landscape.
We call on every Benue person-farmers, traders, youth, elders, and traditional leaders, to wake up from complacency and unite in resistance. Our forebears fought tirelessly to preserve our land and culture; we must honour their sacrifices by standing firm against any form of land usurpation or influence that threatens our existence.
Let us not wait until our lands are fully lost or our communities decimated and destabilized. We must act now, raising our voices against these encroachments, mobilizing our communities, and demanding that our government and traditional institutions prioritize the sovereignty of Benue State.
To the authorities and leaders entrusted with our land – particularly the Benue State Government: heed this call! Your duty is to protect the interests of your people, uphold our sovereignty, and prevent any form of foreign domination from taking root. We demand transparency, accountability, and decisive action to safeguard our inheritance.
Benue people, the time to wake up is now. Let us stand together, resilient and unyielding, to defend our land, our culture, and our future. Our land is not for sale. Our heritage is not for negotiation.
Stand firm. Resist. Protect Benue!
Signed
Dennis Agema
President
Network for Transparent Governance (NTG)
Oliver Omenka
Secretary General
