By Donald Kumun
In these turbulent times, Benue State faces not only the external threats of insecurity which has served as a harbinger of economic hardship, dangerous internal threat—the rising tide of personal hatred, sabotage, character assassination, and the deliberate undermining of constitutional authority.
This is a wake-up call to all: political gladiators, social media activists, youth organizations, and elites. We must urgently put an end to these self-destructive tendencies and embrace unity in the face of growing common existential threats.
Democracy thrives on strong institutions. When individuals or groups relentlessly attack the legitimacy of government—be it the Office of the Governor, commissioners, or state institutions—they are not weakening individuals; they are weakening the system.
Such conduct—fueled by misinformation, political bitterness, and personal vendettas—erodes public trust and destabilizes governance. It emboldens lawlessness and creates an environment where no leader can succeed, no matter how well-intentioned.
We must re-learn respect for the office, even if we disagree with the occupant. There are legal, civil, and democratic means of expressing dissent. Benue State, must never become a state where impunity is disguised as activism and social crusader.
Some elements have made Benue’s political scene to increasingly become defined not by policy debates or visionary planning, but by personal hatred and character assassination. Public discourse is polluted with lies, crude defamation, and calculated smear campaigns—all to discredit individuals and settle scores that the greater majority knows nothing about.
This dangerous culture is spreading like wildfire, particularly across social media platforms. Innocent people are demonized. Good ideas are sabotaged. Reputations are destroyed without evidence. This is unwarranted. But those who are placed either in vertical or horizontal positions of authority, are in the bush, beating the drums of the human hearts, we are now introduced into some dances and steps, as have never witnessed in the state before.
We must say: Enough is enough! It is time to reclaim our values as a people of honor, culture, and justice. Politics must be elevated above gossip and hate. Let us judge our leaders by their work, not by who shouts the loudest online. The time to embark on this mission is now and right away.
Benue’s youth are gifted, energetic, and passionate—but many are now being exploited as pawns in political battles which they know nothing about and will never be at the table when the genuine scores will be settled. Instead of leading innovation, they are drafted into online wars of attrition and belligerence, peddling half-truths, doctored narratives, and tribal rhetoric.
Social media must not become a digital battlefield. It must become a platform for transformation, entrepreneurship, civic education, and advocacy for development. The destructive pattern it has taken in Benue State, must be hated forthwith. Youths energy must be re-directed and channel into efforts geared towards common concerns.
Youth leaders must rise above petty jealousy, influence and become the vanguard of a new Benue—one rooted in service, innovation, and integrity. The future belongs to the youth, but only if they choose to build, not destroy their tomorrow with bare hands.
A note of caution must be sounded to the illicit political actors and elites: The damage you cause today for personal gains will not spare you tomorrow. Sabotage, blackmail, and division may win temporary applause, but they destroy the very systems needed for peace, growth, and generational leadership or transformation.
Benue must not become a battlefield of egos. Our elders must not fuel division. Our leaders must not manipulate divisions for power. There is no victory in a broken house. Let us remember: Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia is building a lasting legacy of selfless service—not just for the next election, but for the next generation.
Consequently, our real enemies are not our fellow Benue citizens. Our enemies are poverty, insecurity, hunger, ignorance, joblessness, and displacement. And these cannot be defeated in a state divided by hate speech, false and illicit narratives. These lasting formidable legacies of potent achievements of the Governor with less than TWO YEARS in office, with more in the pipeline, must be cherished and embrace by all and sundry.
This is the time to unite. The Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Hausa, and every group, must see that we rise or fall together. This is the hour of decision. Let us disagree (where absolutely necessary) without hatred. Let us stop demonizing persons. Let us not destroy institutions. The Governor needs the support of every Benue citizen, and beyond, at this critical time of insecurity challenges devoid of political inclinations.
We must build a new consensus for development. Government is already leading with transparency. Citizens must engage with responsibility. Youth must not be contaminated with thrills of political vandalism. Why are they not fronting their own children, on social media platforms, to exude the energies you are using to accomplish their political targets? Why are you feeding on stipends while they take the bulk of it to their families? We must be wise! Progress, unity, and peace, must be the watch words and not debilitating propaganda. True media services, reflects truth, and not fictions.
Those amplifying negative criticsms, must become reformers. Activists must become solution-seekers. Opposition must become loyal partners in progress. We must build a Benue that welcomes all, uplifts all, and belongs to all of us.
If we advance the path of self destruction, hatred and sabotage, we condemn Benue to further stagnation and invasions. But if we embrace unity, dialogue, and mutual respect, we unlock inherent prosperity for all of us.
In the face of rascality and invasion by these foreigners, beyond our expectations, resulting to the Governor’s outcry to the Federal Government, as the Chief Security Officer of the State, that Benue State is under siege, we must reset, reflect, and rebuild our thought patterns, and not perpetually remain in the opposing component than build the neccessary synergy to support the Governor. History should remember the insecurity challenges as the turning point—when we chose healing over hate, partnership over polarization, and vision over vengeance.
Benue State stakeholders, in all ramifications, must rise up with the Governor, to eschew them from narratives that the State would not have channel them to, negatively. And it begins with everyone, with me, across board. To whom God has given, no matter the level of provocation, envy, and diabolism,the more you push to destroy the VERDICT OF GOD, the more you will see yourself going down – are practical realities of life.
We can continue to dwell in hatred and division, sabotaging one another, while our state suffers. Or we can rise as one people, bound by love for our homeland (Benue), and face our challenges together, and squarely to conquer.
The time to heal is now. The time to unite is now. The time to join the Governor to rebuild Benue is now. Let this albatross be our collective turning point. Let it be remembered that in 2025, when Benue State stood at the crossroads, her sons and daughters of goodwill, chose peace over poison, progress over politics, and unity over division. History is carefully and silently watching all of us.
Donald Kumun,
is the Principal Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Print Media, and writes from Makurdi the State Capital.
