Benue is undoubtedly a central part of Nigeria, a significant part of the belt that holds the country together. There is no doubt that any significant impact on this part of the country has ripple effects on the entire nation. History has it that the middle belt of which Benue is a part, has always been a jealously guarded portion of the country during upheavals and coups as much as it usually is, more often than not the target of opponents, depending on the context in question. Taking over this part, for instance, arguably, means crippling the entire nation . As a matter of fact, the bridge over the River Benue is referred to as a link between the North and the South. A strong proof of the significance of this part of the middle belt in the political arithmetics of the nation is reflected in the Nigeria/Biafra war. History has it Nigeria succeeded because they had the Benue valley on their side.

This explains to a large extent why the Benue voice is usually louder than most. The valley has consciously or unconsciously, knowingly or unknowingly become a custodian of the magic behind what succeeds or fails in Nigeria. The voices that rise from this region are quite loud, strong and respected, (recollecting with nostalgia the JS Tarkaas and the Gideon Orkaas) and to some extent, some school of thought have postulated this as a reason behind attempts to suppress and ultimately kill or frustrate any significant voice from here and most times according to this school of thought, use the crab and cricket approach to achieve this.

A few weeks ago, the Benue valley spoke quite loud and strong. There was a planned nationwide protest tagged #endbadgovernance. Were the reasons germain? Very much so. Is there hunger in the land? Yes. Are there challenges with the livelihoods of Nigerians? Yes. And a host of other yeses. As the days drew nearer and the determination got stronger, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia stepped forward and had a heart to heart discussion with all unions and the organized labour in the state and after some deliberations, the unions, the youth, the women the young and old gave him their word, that there won’t be any protest in the state. And true to their word, there was no protest. As a matter of fact, Benue state made headlines as the only state apart from 2 others to shun the protest. To this His Excellency has expressed his unlimited gratitude and appreciation.

The silence from the Benue Valley during the nationwide protest spoke volumes: it was respect for the governor and an indication that:

1. There are several means of expressing grievances and the paramount consideration should be that whatever the method, the end result must leave the aggrieved better than they were before the protest. The Benue people chose to send thier message to the President through the governor for whom they have alot of respect. There is no denying the fact that hoodlums took over the protests in many parts of the country where lives were lost and property destroyed. This has unarguably taken such states steps back as the monies which could have been used elsewhere would now be used to repair what has been destroyed. The voices in the Benue Valley chose a path that would guarantee progression instead of retrogression.

2. The Benue people by their silence cast a vote of confidence on His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia for the giant strides he is taking to move the state forward. Their decision to stay at home during the protest was appreciation for:

A. The consistent salaries

B. The consistent pensions

C. The consistent Gratuities

D. The revival of the health sector

E. The ongoing revamping of the education sector through the ministry of education via SUBEB, BEQA etc

F. The Construction of over 36 township roads with 22 others ongoing across the state

G. The over 53 awarded rural roads linking the state, more than half of which work has commenced.

H. The turning around of the agricultural fortunes of the state by supplying fertilisers on time at subsidized rates and making sure the free fertilizers supplied by the Federal government and supplemented by the state, get to the grassroots and are not truncated by paper farmers.

I. The Provision of the needed counterpart funding required to get both national and international interventions , ACRaSEL, UN (internally displaced and refugees)

J. The efforts of the governor towards curtailing the impact of cancer in the state, the region and Nigeria at large by investing 2billion naira in the project to build a cancer treatment center at the BSUTH

K. The many international investments His Excellency is drawing and attracting into the state which holds a bright future for the state in the areas of power supply, health care, Agriculture and education.

L. The yearning of our governor to ensure that 10 factories/industries are up and running before the end of his administration some of which, ( like the Benue Brewery) are far gone in terms of construction.

The list is endless.

On the whole the Loud silence of the Benue People is an indication that:

1. the Benue people see and appreciate His Excellency’s efforts towards ensuring a new and better Benue and are not ready to loose on their gains so far.

2. In-spite of the fact that they feel the hunger, they appreciate much more, the efforts of His Excellency towards ensuring food sufficiency through his new and innovative agricultural programs.

3. The Benue people feel the difficulties but rather choose to protect the developmental efforts of the Alia administration than give any opportunity to hoodlums to destroy what has been built and take them years back.

4. The Benue people have chosen to stand Behind His Excellency, Rev Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia as he is doing everything within his power to pull the state out of the woods and take care of the so many deficits the state has suffered in infrastructure, education, health and agriculture.

For this His Excellency is grateful and has expressed this at several fora with a promise to ensure that the confidence the Benue people have reposed in him will not be in vain.

This clearly shows that, with His Excellency, Rev . Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia in the driver’s seat and the entire Benue people aboard, the sky is only the starting point for the Benue valley that have spoken so loud by their silence.

Surely, our Benue shall be great again

Solomon Iorpev

Technical Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication.