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SUNNY MARK: THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS.

Hon. Mark Sunday Eche, aspirant for the Federal House of Representatives for Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, is the man capable of making things work.

Having served in the Benue State Government, he has firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing his people. Hon. Sunny Mark is a former elected Chairman and former Caretaker Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Council in Benue State.

Widely traveled and well exposed, he possesses the experience and perspective needed to effectively address the affairs of the good people of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency. We believe that, by the grace of God, Hon. Sunny Mark will restore the lost glory of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency.

We call on all well-meaning people of Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency who desire true development to come out in mass and support this great man in 2027.

When Philosophy Becomes Partisan: Unmasking the Bias in Hagher's "Followership Crisis' Essay

Monday, April 13, 2026

The essay by an elder statesman, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, titled “Nigeria’s Followership Crisis: Why Bad Leadership Thrives in Benue and Beyond” unveils a sound philosophical reflection on what exactly is "civic responsibility".

It is a sound essay, ordinarily, raising the fact that citizens, through their choices and orientation, form the quality of leadership they operate under.

However, its application to Benue State under the leadership of Governor Alia, drifts from balanced analysis into a carefully intellectualised partisan, selective narrative disguised as a leadership essay.

The narration attempts to universalise the concept of “followership failure” while it tip-toes smartly confining its practical application to one "targeted" political actor, thereby shifting from objective diagnosis to targeted indictment.

Prof Hagher downplays the constitutional structural realities of insecurity in Nigeria that no single governor can solely tackle. None, not one.

They are all constrained. So, isolating Benue’s security challenges without rational and adequate emphasis on constitutional reality is, at best, incomplete, and at worst, deliberate intellectual fraudulence.

The essay fails to sufficiently fit Benue’s insecurity within the broader national chaos, as from the North-West to the Middle Belt and beyond, local communities continue to contend with banditry, insurgency, etc.

Reflecting Benue’s situation in total disconnect from national reality governance risks grossly misleading readers. Of course, that seems to be the original import of the Essayist.

Noticeably, the essay is reluctant to acknowledge the ongoing incremental gains that sub-national Benue is making. Nothing of such makes the essay more an intellectual camouflage to get at Governor Alia.

To dismiss progress amidst Benue’s insecure environment on the basis that it does not meet the Essayist's threshold is to demand perfection in a context that requires or should require persistence.

Another curious concern is the tone used in ascribing the governor’s political engagements with the Benue publics.

Professor Hagher knows that democratic politicking, involves contestation, and symbolic mobilisation. This is open to criticism no doubt, but exaggerating them into proofs of incitement or instability on Alia singularly betrays a lack of balance.

How often does Prof Hagher consult? How does he expect to be consulted? Taking the lead to speak for all Benue stakeholders suggests a crafted purpose not to critique, but to delegitimise.

Unfortunately, Hagher's essay itself exemplifies the very problem it claims to interrogate, address or pass an opinionated verdict on.

On one hand, the essay calls for objective citizenship but its author prefers modelling Alia selectively for criticism. The essay cautions against propagandizing, yet tilts heavily on emotionally charged interpretations!

Civic responsibility demands consistency of standards which from an intellectual's lens ought to be applied across stakeholders, across time(s), and across political persuasions.

While Governor Alia, or any leader, should be insulated from criticism, intellectual scrutiny or criticism ought to be fair and contextual. Possibly solution-driven as well. It shouldn't be to inflame under any intellectual cloaking. Not ivory towered political points hunt.

The people of Benue understand the density of their circumstances and context. Interestingly, they are not quite inspired or moved by politically motivated alarming essays.

When statesmen reframe blame rather than providing solutions or broadening collective responsibility across national and state-level institutions, and publics it helps little. Shifting narratives from “bad leadership” to “bad followership,” especially when such shifts are selectively weaponized is simply a disguised version of intellectual fraudulence.

Progress comes from honest engagement and enquiry, powered by shared accountability and not in partisan intellectualism.

Governor Alia is not burdened or interested in choosing between defending leadership and condemning followership. He wants a re-engineered Benue where both leadership and followership are held to the appropriate standards of responsibility, integrity, and measurable commitment to the common good, while he provides the needed leadership as captain of the ship.

Sir Tersoo Kula, mnipr
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State.

CHIEF OF STAFF, BARR. MOSES ATAGHER, STEPS IN FOR GOVERNOR ALIA, CHAMPIONS GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION AND CULTURAL RENAISSANCE IN VANDEIKYA

Alam kingDavid sh*ter
Vandeikya, April 11, 2026

In a profound demonstration of administrative solidarity and grassroots engagement, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Benue State, Moses Atagher, stood in representation of His Excellency, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, at the GESA U AMO singing competition and the official launch of the Divine Consensus Mothers in Vandeikya. His presence was a strong commitment of the Alia-led administration to fostering cultural preservation, community participation, and inclusive political mobilisation.

The two-day cultural and political convergence, held at the Vandeikya Township Stadium from April 10–11, served not merely as a platform for artistic expression but as a strategic nexus for consolidating grassroots support.

Representing the Governor, Barr. Atagher delivered a message imbued with statesmanship, reaffirming the administration’s resolve to deepen developmental strides through people-oriented initiatives.

In his address, the Chief of Staff articulated the Governor’s appreciation for the organisers—Divine Consensus for Alia and the APC Elders Forum, Vandeikya—for orchestrating a programme that harmoniously blends cultural heritage with civic consciousness. He extolled the role of indigenous music as a potent instrument of mass communication, capable of transmitting values, shaping public orientation, and reinforcing collective identity within Tivland.

Barr. Atagher particularly commended the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Grace Adagba, for her visionary leadership and steadfast alignment with the administration’s transformative agenda. He noted that her integration of education with cultural initiatives exemplifies a holistic approach to development—one that nurtures both intellect and identity.

Central to his intervention was a strong endorsement of women’s mobilisation as a critical pillar of sustainable governance. He described the unveiling of the Divine Consensus Mothers as a “strategic masterstroke” in galvanising female participation at the grassroots level, emphasizing that women remain indispensable catalysts in the socio-political evolution of the state. According to him, empowering women structures ensures not only electoral viability but also enduring community development.

Furthermore, Barr. Atagher highlighted the broader achievements of the Alia administration, asserting that such initiatives are reflective of a government that prioritises inclusivity, cultural pride, and human capital development. He urged participants, particularly the youth, to leverage their talents as instruments of advocacy, projecting the administration’s accomplishments across communities and beyond.

In a symbolic gesture of encouragement and recognition, the Chief of Staff presented prizes to outstanding contestants, applauding their creativity and dedication to preserving Tiv folkloric music. He reiterated the Governor’s goodwill and charged all participants to remain ambassadors of cultural excellence and societal progress.

Kwande

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