Nigerian Concord Newspaper
There are some things in life that are difficult to speak about objectively. For me, one of those has always been my father, MKA, his contributions to Benue State and Nigeria, and today, his desire to govern our people.
For years, I deliberately stayed silent.
Why? Because I am his son.
Naturally, the first question people will ask is: what son would speak against his own father? I understood that, and I respected that argument. For that reason, I allowed the people of Benue to form their own opinions about him without my voice influencing the conversation.
MKA has contested elections before and lost, and throughout those moments, I remained quiet. I never publicly defended him. I never campaigned emotionally on his behalf. At times, I even privately wondered why he still bothered at all.
But this time is different.
This time, I have decided to speak openly, even at the risk of criticism, accusations of bias, or trying to “profit” from insecurity. I speak because I believe silence at a time like this would be wrong.
Again and again, our people are killed, communities destroyed, and families displaced.
For a few days, everyone cries, hashtags trend, curated statements are issued, and press conferences are held. Then slowly, life returns to normal until the next massacre happens again.
That cycle has become our tragedy. But perhaps the bigger tragedy is that we, as a people, are so quick to forget that insecurity is our biggest challenge today, at-least until it happens again.
Many leaders have responded with silence, excuses, carefully managed statements, fear, and sometimes even denial. But MKA has never been comfortable pretending that all is well. Even under pressure to remain silent, he has consistently spoken out.
That is who he is.
MKA is many things, and he is certainly not perfect. But MKA is bold. MKA is courageous. Anyone who has worked closely with him knows this. Those old enough to remember his time as Attorney General of the Federation can testify to it. He has never been a man afraid to stand alone when he believes something is right, rightly or wrongly.
Today, I believe Benue needs leadership with courage. Leadership with experience. Leadership with national relevance. Leadership that can stand before the highest powers in Nigeria and command attention, not beg for it.
The office of Attorney General of the Federation is perhaps one of Nigeria’s most enviable offices. It is one of the most powerful legal and constitutional offices in the country. It carries the legal weight and national security interests of the nation. That pedigree matters. That experience matters.
Imagine a Benue led by a governor who has sat at the very center of Nigeria’s legal and political system.
Imagine a governor that other governors queue behind.
Imagine a governor with true national recognition, influence, experience, and history.
Just imagine that for a moment.
To cast our minds back, during MKA’s time as Attorney General of the Federation, Benue experienced one of its strongest periods of federal presence and representation in national appointments.
During that period , several distinguished Benue sons and daughters rose to strategic national positions, including but not limited to:
• Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu — Chief Justice of Nigeria
• Mrs. Farida Waziri — Chairman of the EFCC
• Dr. Paul Orhii — Director General of NAFDAC
• Mr. Roberts Orya — Managing Director of NEXIM Bank
• Prof. John Idoko — Director General of NACA
• Mr. Emmanuel Ukura — Auditor-General of the Federation
• Mr. Chuzzy Ugede — Leadership role at NAPTIP
I will not be drawn into the debate over who was responsible for these appointments. But those were the kinds of positions Benue attracted during that era. To the people , that translated into federal opportunities and jobs that were otherwise out of reach .
Today, more than 15 years after leaving public office, MKA remains one of the significant employers of labour in Benue through private investments and law practice and has continued to use his influence to advocate the Benue corner.
MKA may or may not become Governor. Only time will tell.
But one thing I strongly believe is this: whoever becomes Governor of Benue must do more to secure our people, protect our communities, and finally put an end to the repeated bloodshed and hostilities that have become far too common in our land.