Governor Hyacinth Alia has strongly rejected a call by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Sabastine Hon for the declaration of emergency rule in Benue State, citing worsening insecurity.
Alia, speaking through his spokesman Sir Kulas Tersoo, described Hon’s appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an attempt to politicize a grave security challenge for personal gain.
Calling the SAN’s position “hypocrisy and shallowness,” the governor’s office accused Hon, who is also a law professor, of contradicting himself and engaging in flawed reasoning.
“This is a clear case of hypocrisy,” the statement said. “Unlike many respected legal professionals who champion national justice, Professor Sabastine has chosen a narrow path focused on local politics and seeking cheap relevance.”
The governor noted that instead of addressing national issues or defending constitutional values, Hon has chosen to politicize the suffering of his own people.
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The statement further challenged the SAN’s logic, pointing out that while Hon acknowledged the worsening security situation, he unfairly accused Governor Alia of indifference towards peace efforts.
In contrast, the governor highlighted multiple initiatives his administration has undertaken to combat insecurity, including promoting community policing to foster trust between citizens and law enforcement, collaborating closely with police and military forces, and establishing new security outposts for rapid response.
Alia’s administration has also emphasized intelligence sharing and supported local vigilante groups by providing training and resources to enhance security operations.
The governor’s team questioned whether the SAN had forgotten that President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is ultimately responsible for national security, especially since Hon’s own petition was addressed to the president.
Despite recognizing federal security shortcomings, the SAN blamed Governor Alia for the failures of military and paramilitary operations—a point the governor’s office called “illogical,” stressing that the state governor does not command the army or federal security agencies.
Lastly, the statement criticized the SAN’s reliance on an outdated video of the governor describing early attacks as “skirmishes,” suggesting that the SAN may be either out of touch with the current situation or deliberately stirring controversy to appease political allies in Abuja.
