Ademola Adegbamigbe
Before his visit, the relationship between some rival groups in Benue State was like the one that exists between the mongoose and the cobra! They were at each other’s jugular, running over villages, leaving corpses and destruction like Mongol hordes.
However, the coming of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state had the effect of when water is poured on hot coal or like when hot knife cuts through butter. His visit made tension to dissolve into peace meetings and encouraging rapprochements. In other words, the palpable political tension in Benue state, orchestrated by a prolonged misunderstanding amongst leaders seems to be calming by day, following the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Over a week ago, the President was in Benue state to condole with the people, and to also have first-hand information of the incessant killings and general insecurity in the state.
He directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to immediately arrest killer herders who perpetrated the heinous killing of over 100 people in Yelewata community in Benue State.
President Tinubu gave the directive while addressing stakeholders at the Government House, Markudi.
The meeting included the Secretary to the Federal Government, George Akume, Traditional Rulers, and former Governors of the state.
The governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa also attended the meeting.
President Tinubu called out the Inspector General of Police to know why arrests have not been made.
“How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata. Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” President Tinubu said.
He urged the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators.
He told the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, of the need for vigilance and collaboration between communities and security forces.
Advising Governor Alia on the importance of stakeholder management for peaceful and progressive governance, the President urged the governor to set up a peace committee in the state that will include former governors of Benue, elders, traditional rulers, federal government officials, and non-indigenes living in the state.
“Let us meet again in Abuja. Let’s fashion out a framework for lasting peace. I am ready to invest in that peace. I assure you, we will find peace. We will convert this tragedy into prosperity,” he said.
He called for blood donations to support the injured receiving treatment at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, where he had earlier visited victims and medical staff.
While underscoring the importance of peace for sustainable development, President Tinubu implored the Governor to ensure Benue is peaceful, adding that the circumstances of his visit this time should not have been a reason to visit.
“I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity, not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital to development,” he said.
“The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people”, he stressed.
In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia appealed to the Federal Government to establish a Special Intervention Fund for communities affected by repeated violent attacks across Benue State.
“Your Excellency, while we continue to mourn our losses and rebuild from the ashes of pain, we humbly urge the Federal Government to consider establishing a special intervention fund for communities affected by these incessant attacks in Benue State,” he said.
Governor Alia said the fund would support the rehabilitation of displaced persons, reconstruction of destroyed homes and infrastructure, and the restoration of livelihoods, especially for farmers.
He reiterated his support for establishing state police as a lasting solution to insecurity.
The Governor pledged his administration’s full commitment to building a safe, stable, prosperous Benue State.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, praised President Tinubu for being the first sitting President to personally visit victims in the hospital in the wake of such a tragedy.
A few days after the visit, pictures emerged of a meeting between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume and the Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. The pictures were said to have been taken at Akume’s Maitama residence.
After the meeting, Governor Alia wrote on his official Facebook handle, “Today, I paid a surprise visit to Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), at his Maitama residence in Abuja.
It was a warm and insightful interaction marked by mutual respect, unity, and deep reflection on both state and national issues, as well as a shared commitment to the progress of our dear state and nation”.
Again, yesterday, pictures of the Chief Judge of the state, Mr. Maurice Ikpambese visiting Governor Alia at Government House Makurdi emerged. In the picture also was the Speaker, Benue state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aondona Dajoh.
Recall that the Assembly had voted and directed Governor Hyacinth Alia to suspend the CJ of the state, a development that generated national discourse for weeks.
The Spokesman to Governor Alia, Sir Tersoo Kula who also published the pictures on his official Facebook and X handles wrote, “In democracy, the fulfilment of the promises of peace, security, unity and progress is what makes it an effective vehicle for nation-building.
“The leaders of the State have come to understand that the peace, unity and progress of the State is the ultimate goal at this time for the people to be served honestly in a dedicated manner.
“Benue shall be great again”.