A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Engr Julius Inedu, has raised the alarm over the deteriorating security situation in the state.
Inedu accused Governor Hyacinth Alia and his team of neglecting their core responsibilities while focusing on intra-party power struggles.
In an open letter addressed to the governor, Inedu lamented what he described as the governor’s growing disconnect from the realities facing the people of Benue State.
According to him, communities across the state remain under siege from escalating farmer-herder conflicts, bandit attacks and communal clashes, with thousands of families displaced and living in squalid camps.
He expressed concern that despite increased revenue allocations to the state following the removal of fuel subsidies, there has been no corresponding improvement in security or welfare initiatives.
“Benue continues to bleed. Communities across the state are under siege—from the north to the south. The farmer-herder crisis, bandit attacks, and communal clashes have not abated. In many cases, they have intensified. Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are overflowing, and families have lost everything: homes, loved ones, and their sense of safety,” Inedu wrote.
He accused the governor of focusing more on internal APC leadership tussles than on addressing the existential challenges facing the people.
Referring to a recent interview granted by Governor Alia on national television, Inedu criticised the governor for dwelling on political control instead of critical issues such as insecurity, unemployment, and economic development.
“This comes off as disconnected from the realities on the ground. The people of Benue are not concerned about who controls the APC—they are worried about who controls the security of their communities and their future,” he stressed.
The APC chieftain also drew attention to the worsening unemployment situation in the state, noting that no major recruitment has been carried out in the Benue State civil service since 2014, leaving many young people jobless and vulnerable to criminal influence.
Describing the growing army of unemployed youths as a “ticking time bomb,” Inedu urged Governor Alia to use the additional federal allocations at the state’s disposal to create jobs, empower youths, and fill critical vacancies in government ministries and agencies.
He further warned that the wave of enthusiasm that accompanied Alia’s election victory in 2023 was quickly fading, and that the popular “Yes Father” campaign slogan was at risk of becoming nothing more than a memory.
“The momentum of hope that accompanied your emergence is waning. The enthusiasm, the expectations, the faith—they are fading. The ‘Yes Father’ movement is at risk of becoming a memory rather than a legacy,” he noted.
“The people of Benue are not asking for miracles. They are asking for purposeful leadership, clear communication, and a sincere commitment to their welfare and security. You were elected to serve them, protect them, and restore their dignity. The time to act is now,” he declared.
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