… Calls for state police, restructuring of Nigeria
From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
Benue State, often referred to as Nigeria’s “Food Basket,” has in recent years faced challenges that threaten its agricultural productivity and social stability.
The most pressing is the escalating insecurity caused by violent clashes between herders and farmers, which has displaced thousands of people and disrupted agricultural activities across the state.
In this exclusive interview with Daily Sun, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, who is the chairman of the three major Socio-Cultural Organisations in the state, Mzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha K’Idoma, and Ominy’Igede and the President General of Mzough U Tiv worldwide, shares his insights and proffers solutions to the security challenges facing the state
Why has it been difficult to reconcile the SGF with Gov Alia? What is your group doing with regards to unity among the Tiv nation?
All three social cultural groups are products of the traditional institutions, and the Tiv traditional institution, in particular, is working to bring these two individuals together. When we met in Gboko some weeks ago, we emphasized the unity of all Tiv sons and daughters. The meeting also stressed the importance of setting politics aside and coming together to address the challenges of the Tiv people.
It is our position that once you contest an election, there is a time for struggle, but once you attain the position you were striving for, you must turn your attention to governing the people. Governance takes place after an election. When you continue struggling as if you’re still pursuing ballot boxes after elections, it isn’t helpful to our society.
Their failure to unite affects the entire Benue society. Without their leadership, society lacks direction and focus because they are the ones meant to provide guidance for the people. The people have given them their mandate, placing them above others, so the people look up to them. Unfortunately, the crisis between these two is causing problems. It also affects how we address insecurity issues because of the blame game; some blame the Governor, others fault the national members.
If they reason together, the masses would follow suit, and we could address problems with one voice and develop unified solutions. I’m not a politician. They are all my children, and I don’t support one against another. I’ve tried talking to them, but sometimes reaching them is difficult, either by telephone or letters. Our responsibility as a traditional institution is to continue emphasizing and reminding them that unity is essential. We cannot force it, but we keep advising them to work together for the sake of the state.
Personally, I told them I would build bridges by meeting highly placed Nigerians. I visited the Ooni of Ife and asked if the Benue State House of Assembly was wrong in enacting the anti-open grazing law, and he said they had done nothing wrong. We visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and TY Danjuma. Our problem is lack of unity. I want Governor Hyacinth Alia to follow the example of the Cross River State governor, who invited the Senate President from another party, gave him a reception, and requested three things he wanted the Senate President to help the state obtain. That’s how George Akume and Alia should be working.
On May 29, 2025, Governor Hyacinth Alia will be two years in office. How would you assess his administration?
Governor Alia is doing well but the only area I’m not too comfortable with is insecurity. In Gboko recently, I told the Governor directly that he has taken on the primary role of governance, and government’s duty is to protect the lives and properties of the people. When they are killing people and you say nothing, it’s concerning. One of his advisors claimed people aren’t being killed, but we all see the killings. He sees it too. Everyone sees it. I have told the Tiv people that they have been sleeping; they should wake up and unite. With unity, we can have peace and development.
Regarding the herdsmen issue, during their campaign, they promised that within the first 100 days, the IDPs would return home, but we’ve heard nothing since. The Governor is doing very well in many areas, but he should do more on insecurity. He’s making significant progress in infrastructural development—roads, schools, hospitals, bridges, renovation of public buildings, and more. He’s also paying salary arrears, pensions, and current salaries. So overall, he is performing well.
Ahead of 2027, what is your advice to the Benue people?
My advice is for them to recognise that there are times for campaigns, times for elections, and times for governance. Alia is the governor now, and whether you voted for him or not, we should all support him so he succeeds. Politics should not be seen as a do-or-die affair. You win or you lose. We should come together, regardless of party affiliations, and work for the interest of Benue State, not for personal interests. I advise them to unite and work together.
I vote for individuals, not parties. I vote for candidates based on merit. If my wife was alive and running for election, but I felt she wasn’t capable, I wouldn’t vote for her. The Benue people should support whoever they believe can deliver. It’s better to be unrepresented than to be underrepresented. Benue isn’t developed enough. Visit neighboring Nasarawa state, where all streets are paved, that’s what Alia is trying to do now. If we had been doing this long ago, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Governor Alia said he still has six more years to spend in office, meaning he will contest again in 2027. You just declared he is doing well. Are you calling for support for his reelection?
I’m not a politician, so I cannot answer that. I’ve said the Governor is doing well so far, and I’ve asked the Benue people to support whoever they believe will perform. It’s up to the people to decide.
What is your take on the wave of defections from other parties into the ruling All Progressives Congress?
As a political scientist, I oppose a one-party state, especially for Africans. Without opposition, those in government would do whatever they want. Even in the UK and US, from whom we adopted our system of government, they maintain strong two-party systems. In Britain, there was a time when the Labour Party was out of government for 20 years, but no one left Labour for the Conservative Party. Americans don’t do that either. Here, people chase money. If someone wins an election in one party today, tomorrow everybody defects to join them, whether they’re performing or not, because they want financial gain.
Alia is performing, and the President is also doing his best. The only issue they must address vigorously is insecurity. In my opinion, those defecting now are simply seeking financial gain. There’s nothing inherently wrong with either the presidential or parliamentary system of government. The problem lies with the actors. The implications of a one-party system in Nigeria would be devastating, as we would be at the mercy of that party with no one to check them. They would do whatever they want. Even when people advise them, they rarely listen.
Look at the Senate, one woman accused the Senate President, and nobody is talking about it. Money resolves everything. Anything that happens, money takes care of it, especially now that they’re receiving substantial funds from Tinubu. They do whatever they want. I’m not a politician and don’t get involved in politics. I only vote because that’s the only right I have in this country, the right to vote.
Insecurity is bringing Benue to its knees. What is your solution to these security issues?
In the North, they farm continuously for 12 months. Some are already saying the food basket is broken, which is true. Let me talk about Kwande, Moon Council Ward, where I come from. For the past 10 years, we haven’t been able to return. When my beloved wife died, I couldn’t bury her where I buried my father, mother, and elder brothers. I had to bury her in Jato Aka. The herdsmen destroyed and burned all three houses I built during my service years. They displaced the entire council ward, forcing us out, and nobody is addressing this. We don’t know whether we’re in Benue state or somewhere else. Currently, there’s no IDP camp in Kwande, the only camp there houses Cameroonian refugees.
For a solution, as I mentioned earlier, securing our lives isn’t solely the Governor’s responsibility. We should all stand up, confront these people as we did in 1804 when we defeated them and prevented the Jihad from reaching the East. They’re still unhappy about that defeat. They claim that if they had passed through our territory, it would have been much easier for them to advance.
Is Benue currently doing everything necessary to address this insecurity?
When the previous administration left office, herdsmen and their cattle were rarely seen in most communities. Recently, while traveling to Gboko, I witnessed herders and their cattle blocking the road and moving in large numbers. The problem is that the current administration has relaxed enforcement of the anti-open grazing law. The security apparatus established isn’t being fully utilized to apprehend the herders. Instead, you find security personnel working in private homes as domestic staff. That’s the truth—they haven’t been redirected to pursue these invaders, and the vehicles once used to impound cattle have been reassigned to Benue Links for transporting luggage.
When the law was relaxed, we thought there was an alternative approach, but now we see there isn’t. That’s why people are calling for stronger enforcement of the law. In the past, when we enforced it strictly, the herders faced consequences. Some were punished, some paid fines to retrieve their cattle, and many fled from these local government areas. You would only find them in the most remote parts of the state, but today you see them everywhere, even around Makurdi, the state capital. We need to reinforce the law and apply it strictly.
Not implementing the law creates a sense of redundancy among those recruited for enforcement. The anti-open grazing law hasn’t been repealed, and since it remains on the books, it must be strictly enforced to deter troublemakers.
Recently, prominent Nigerians including Gen. T.Y. Danjuma have called for arming natives to defend themselves and their communities against these invaders. What is your view?
I support this position because if the government cannot defend us, we should defend ourselves. I also call for the restructuring of Nigeria and the establishment of state police. That would help tremendously. I say this because Commissioners of Police, when posted to a state, often refuse to take orders from state governors, claiming they answer only to federal authorities.
In the US, they have federal police, state police, city police, and others. The federal police or army don’t intervene unnecessarily. Only when state police cannot handle a situation do they send in the National Guard. Soldiers aren’t meant for certain law enforcement duties, but here they’re deployed and some just collect bribes. The federal government must establish state police and restructure the country as a matter of urgency to ensure the protection of lives and property of Nigerians.