For BENUE

 To His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia

Executive Governor, Benue State

Your Excellency,

Greetings in the name of the Most High—whose sovereignty guides the affairs of both men and nations. I write to you not only as a fellow Benue indigene but as one who carries the burden of shared grief, deep reflection, and enduring hope.

First and foremost, may I offer my heartfelt condolences to you—as the bearer of the mantle of leadership in our beloved state—over the repeated tragedies and senseless massacres that have plagued our land. These are not just statistics or distant events—they are the interrupted dreams of our brothers, the silenced songs of our sisters, and the shattered hopes of our children. The blood that stains our soil cries out, not just for justice, but for purposeful and transformative leadership.

When you assumed office, a rare light flickered through the fog that had long enveloped Benue. In you, many did not see a man of a single tribe or clerical background, but a symbol of divine intervention—an embodiment of possibility. Your emergence stirred hope in places where it had become a foreign language. You were our answered prayer—our bridge between faith and governance, between promise and performance.

Yet, as the months unfolded, that once clear voice of divine resolve began to be drowned by the noise of politics, bureaucracy, and influence. Those whom you entrusted with the execution of your vision have, in many cases, spoken louder than you, acted more prominently than you, and charted paths far removed from the promise that brought you to power. Leadership, Your Excellency, does not only bear the crown—it must also carry the cross.

While you may not be the architect of every inherited dysfunction, the weight of expectations rests with you. That is the paradox of leadership. The people will always look to the lighthouse in a storm. You must be that lighthouse—not merely visible, but unshakable.

Permit me, humbly and respectfully, to offer a few suggestions, born not of criticism, but of concern and care:

Reclaim your voice. The people long to hear not only the decrees from Government House, but the heart behind them. Let your vision echo louder than any delegate’s interpretation of it.

Listen with discipline. Open a suggestion portal—physical and digital—that allows ideas to travel upward. Institutionalize town hall briefings. Let governance be a conversation, not a monologue.

Trust the street’s wisdom. The grapevine is often the first whisper of truth. Use it not as a tool of gossip, but as a barometer of public sentiment.

Re-examine your inner circle. The cautionary words of the past deserve a second hearing. Not all warnings are borne of envy—some are born of wisdom and foresight.

Lead across ethnic lines. Our future will not be built by Tiv, Idoma, or Igede alone—it must be built by Benue. Your government must reflect that truth in policy and posture.

Let data and truth be your compass. Decisions backed by verifiable facts outlive the noise of propaganda and political expediency.

Above all, continue to pray—not with resignation, but with resilience. For even Christ, in His agony, asked the Father to take the cup away—but ended with, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” That is the ultimate leadership prayer.

Your Excellency, this is not a plea wrapped in despair—it is a call to remembrance. Remember why you answered this call. Remember the prayers that lifted your candidacy. Remember the promise you became to a people battered by time and trial.

Do not let the raging ocean steal away the ship again. Steer it—bravely, firmly, and with eyes fixed on the shore of legacy. For when you win, Benue wins. And when Benue wins, Nigeria hears a new song from the Middle Belt.

With deep concern and unwavering hope,

Iyahs Oyale Peters 

A Concerned Benue Indigene