Nigerian Concord Newspaper
My dear supporters and the good people of Benue State,
I have received reports and seen images of the burning of campaign materials belonging to our movement. Like many of you, I am deeply concerned by this unfortunate development. However, I wish to state clearly and unequivocally that no act of provocation, no matter how painful or offensive, should cause us to abandon the principles upon which our campaign is founded.
From the very beginning, our movement has stood for peace, security, justice, tolerance, and the rule of law. We have presented ourselves to the people of Benue as a credible alternative because we believe politics should be about ideas, solutions, and service, not hatred, intimidation, or violence.
I therefore call on all my supporters across the 23 local government areas of our dear state to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding. Do not retaliate. Do not destroy anyone’s campaign materials. Do not engage in violence. Do not allow yourselves to be provoked into actions that will tarnish the noble cause we represent under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The price of peace is far cheaper than the cost of violence. Peace builds; violence destroys. Peace unites; violence divides. Peace creates hope; violence leaves pain. No matter the provocation, let us choose peace.
Those who seek to provoke us into anger and disorder have a purpose. They want to distract us from our message. They want to create confusion and paint everyone with the same brush. We must not give them that opportunity. We must disappoint those who expect us to respond with bitterness and violence.
The strength of our movement christened BENUE FIRST does not lie in posters, banners, billboards, or campaign materials. Its strength lies in the conviction of the people, in our shared vision for a safer and more prosperous Benue, and in our collective determination to restore hope to our state. Campaign materials can be destroyed, but the aspirations of the people cannot be burned. The desire for peace cannot be set ablaze. The demand for good governance cannot be intimidated into silence.
I urge every supporter of our movement to remain focused on the values that brought us together. Let us continue to demonstrate respect for the law, respect for our opponents, and respect for the democratic process. Let us show Benue people that there is a clear difference between a movement that seeks to inspire and one that seeks to intimidate; between a movement that builds and one that destroys; between a movement guided by peace and one driven by hostility.
Throughout my public life, I have sought to stand on the side of justice, fairness, and peaceful coexistence. I remain committed to those ideals today. I believe that Benue deserves politics that unites rather than divides, politics that protects rather than persecutes, and politics that offers hope rather than fear.
I therefore appeal to all our supporters: resist every temptation to retaliate. Resist every act of provocation. Remain peaceful. Remain disciplined. Remain focused. Let our conduct speak louder than their actions. Let our commitment to peace be our answer to intolerance. Let our faith in democracy be stronger than any attempt to undermine it.
History will judge all of us not by how loudly we spoke in moments of provocation, but by how responsibly we acted. Let us choose the path of peace. Let us choose the path of justice. Let us choose the path of a better Benue.
May God bless Benue State and guide us all.
Michael Kaase Aondoakaa,
PDP Governorship Candidate, Benue State
September 26, 2026