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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The transformation of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s popular slogan “Yes Father” into what many has described as provocative and intimidating “No Alia, No Benue” mantra has sparked intense controversy in Benue State.
In 2023 when Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia joined the governorship race, his arrival on the political scene changed the music into a movement. And indeed, it was a movement that came like a tsunami, sweeping the entire state, with a resounding success across political divides.
From what may have been adopted from the manner in which the Catholics respond to their Priests, the “Yes Father” slogan was born. Governor Alia’s “Yes Father” slogan was then seen as an endorsement of his candidacy and what would later be his leadership style. The slogan, indeed, resonated with many Benue residents.
In a danceable tone, Benue youths, children, men and women chanted and danced to it with fingers or fists in the air. At every occassion where Fr Alia made appearance, “Yes Father” rented the air to the admiration of all.
As a campaign slogan to promote the governor’s leadership style and policies, the movement was widely accepted. First, it was an effective branding following its simplicity and memorability, thereby making it easy to adopt and chant.
At the time of campaign, Fr. Alia, who was already popular for his healing Masses in the state, was a household name in the state. His supporters transcend political parties and they saw him as a leader who could heal the land and bring positive change to Benue State.
As campaign strategy, the “Yes Fatherrrrr” movement contributed in building a strong connection between the governor and the people as well as among his supporters as it became a style of greeting.
For the whole lot who chanted it, it conveyed enndorsement, a vote of confidence in Fr Alia before the election and in his leadership after his election. It also conveyed respect, acknowledging his paternal approach to governance.
The greatest of them all, it goes with a sense of unity, fostering a sense of togetherness and common purpose among the people.
However, the popular “Yes Father” slogan has suffered a set back with the emergence of another mantra, where youth in support of the Governor are now heard chanting “No Alia, No Benue.”
While they claim the song was to express their support to him as a leader who has brought a new wave of governance and should be allowed to continue in 2027, critics have argue that the chants was rather warlike and needed to be stopped before it degenarates.
As activities towards the 2027 general elections gather momentum, some leaders in Benue have expressed their discontent concerning the “No Alia, No Benue” chants, cautioning the youths and anyone involve in it to desist from such act as it is undemocratic, confrontational and capable of overheating the polity.
Among the first to give a word of caution was the former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam. At the burial of the wife of the Ter Kunav in Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state recently, Suswam publicly expressed displeasure about the “No Alia, No Benue” slogan.
According to his Media Adviser, Mr Bede Bartholomew, “Suswam was the first person to say stop “No Alia No Benue” chants. He said he is highly against it because it is confrontational.
“He said there are other chants they can use and it will be very catchy but that this one is undemocratic and confrontational. It is not too friendly.
“He said that Benue state belongs to everybody and you cannot say no Alia, no Benue, that there would always be Benue,” Bede said.
Also former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, described the “No Alia, No Benue” slogan as “dangerous and anti-democratic”.
Aondoakaa, in an interview with Daily Sun noted that Governor Alia won his election overwhelmingly and should be respected, adding that such slogans would undermine his mandate.
Aondakaa said he had warned of what is happening in Benue State where individuals, who he was sure did not consult Governor Alia, will be shouting, “No Alia No Benue”.
He recalled that Governor Alia won his election with overwhelming popularity by persuasion never in the history of Benue State, “Nobody was hurt. Nobody was killed. The election was one of the freest elections. Governor Alia got an overwhelming vote that has never happened in Benue State. Then, suddenly, you are campaigning, No Alia, No Benue.”
The Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) insisted that ahead of the 2027 elections, the people should not be intimidated with such chants but be allowed to contest freely.
He stated that if the Governor wishes to recontest, what he is currently doing for the people of the state is enough evidence for the people to re-elect him.
He concluded that anybody who yells ‘No Alia, No Benue’ is doing a disservice to the governor and urged everyone doing so to stop.
Our correspondent reports that recently, December 13, 2025, to be precise, during the Tiv Day Celebration in Gboko, the traditional stool of the Tiv people, youths rallying support for the governor, surged into the traditional arena chanting “No Alia, No Benue.”
This act has also attracted more condemnation. In a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi, days after the event, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, took a swipe at the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia accusing him of using the youths to orchestrate an insult to the office of the SGF and the Presidency at the event.
Hagher who was reacting to the event that unfolded at the Tiv Day celebration said such “reflects a troubling tolerance and a disturbing admiration by the Benue Government for political intimidation, mob violence, and abuse of power within Benue State.”
He said Governor Alia alone should accept responsibility and acknowledge the hostile environment that allowed the disgrace saying “Benue State and Nigeria cannot afford to normalise such dangerous intolerance.”
Hagher urge the Tor Tiv, to redress, uphold and not desecrate the royal, revered and prestigious stool of Tiv ancestor Takuruku Anyam Azenga with political partisanship just as he implored the SGF to listen to himself in the Bible’s parable of the Sower he gave in his Tiv Day speech.
“You are the Sower who sowed on hard ground, the stony ground and the thorny ground. But the next seed you will sow will be in the good and fertile ground. Do not despair, the best is yet to come. A word is enough for the wise,” he told Akume.
But the paramount ruler of the Tiv Nation, the Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof James Ayatse immediately gave his wise counsel. He cautioned and admonished the youths to put a stop to such inflammatory songs.
The Tor Tiv who made it clear that it was not a political rally or event stated that no one individual is bigger that the state saying “Tiv land and Benue State is greater than any individual.Those that say without them, there would be no Benue have failed the Mathematics and from today they should keep quiet.
“We have a governor and we are the one that elected him, and we have the SGF and it’s because we anointed him. Let there be peace. That is a word of caution,” the Tor Tiv said.
The Tor Tiv who further sued for peace among state leaders noted that Benue has benefitted a lot from past and present Federal government saying but the Tiv nation and Benue State in general will benefit more if the people are united.
He said lack of unity will bring the state backward and the benefits the state has gotten will become meaningless. He urged all his subject especially those occupying leadership positions to unite, irrespective of their political differences as nothing will be difficult for them to achieve if they stay and work together.
He said they must pust aside their individual differences for unity and development to take place, urging those nursing bitterness against one another to put it aside and work for the greater Tiv nation and Benue State.
There are insinuations that the “No Alia, No Benue” chants may have arisen and a reflection of the complex dynamics of power play in Benue State APC, where loyalists of Governor Alia have vowed to continue to push for support for his re-election.
As the 2027 general election approaches, it remains to be seen how Governor Alia would persuade his supporters to continue to rally behind him, without chanting the “No Alia, No Benue” chants.
