Dr. Livinus Adzer Tsar, the APC candidate for Jechira Federal Constituency (Vandeikya/Konshisha) and a key political ally and strategist of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia. In this exclusive interview with Patrick Ochoga, Tsar bare his mind on the ongoing political contest between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume. He also highlights the administration’s efforts to reposition Benue for growth, strengthen governance, and drive transformative development across the state, while addressing the political undercurrents shaping the future of the APC and Benue politics.
Question
How significant is the reported alignment of Barrister Emmanuel Jime, Hon. Tiza Imojime, and Hon. Joseph Terver Atu with SGF George Akume, and what effect could it have on Governor Hyacinth Alia’s political dominance and APC unity in Benue State?”
ANSWER:
I want to start with Hon. Tiza. He was a former Commissioner for Works. In my view, he did not perform well there and was later moved to the Ministry of Sports. In fact, I consider him one of the least effective commissioners appointed by the Governor. There is little to point to in terms of achievements in the two ministries where he served. Thereafter, he decided to contest for the Buruku Federal Constituency seat. He did not consult the Governor, and he lost because he was not popular on the ground and had no real political value. This is someone who spent most of his time in Lagos. Whenever we visited Lagos, he would come around to see the Governor, and because the Governor likes to encourage young people, he decided to give him an opportunity to serve. However, at the end of the day, he could not return to his constituency and maintain his political base. Do not forget that Buruku Federal Constituency consists of only one local government area, unlike many others that have two. Since Alia appointed him commissioner, he lost touch with his people. Whenever he left Makurdi, he would go either to Lagos or Abuja.
While serving as Commissioner for Works, there were several petitions against him, including petitions allegedly sent to the EFCC concerning misappropriation, as well as complaints from contractors. As a result, the Governor decided to redeploy him to the Ministry of Sports. He later contested an election and lost. He believed the Governor would simply write names and hand him a ticket. However, another former House of Representatives member also contested that election and lost because he too was not on the ground. They were busy playing politics in Abuja while criticizing the Governor. When the party’s National Secretariat opened the e-registration process for members, they did not come home to participate. More than 29,000 members registered in Buruku, and these were the people who took part in the process. So the question is: how do you expect to win a primary election when you were not part of that grassroots mobilization? The popular candidate who was moving around the villages and engaging the people was the one who won. Tiza lost. He probably thought that if Akume were in charge, his name would simply be written and submitted. But the Governor said no. He insisted that anyone seeking elective office must go back to the people so that winning the general election would be easier. Governor Alia has taken politics from the cities back to the grassroots. As we all know, politics is local. After losing, Tiza began attacking and criticizing the Governor. Now, let me talk about Atu. He was appointed Special Adviser on Youth Mobilization. When he arrived in Benue, he allegedly started issuing letters and making appointments using the Governor’s official letterhead. He appointed more than 20 people to assist him in performing his duties. That amounted to impersonation because only the Secretary to the State Government, acting on the Governor’s directives, has such authority. As a result, he was sanctioned and demoted to the position of Principal Special Assistant. He believed I was responsible for his demotion, so he began attacking me and saying all sorts of things against me.
As for Emmanuel Jime, Governor Alia initially nominated him for a ministerial position. However, it was Akume who reportedly opposed the nomination and had him replaced by Professor Joseph Utsev, now Minister of Water Resources. At the time, Akume allegedly told the Governor that Jime was loyal to Rotimi Amaechi and that the nomination would not scale through. This happened when relations between Akume and the Governor were still cordial. Jime is the same person who contested for governor during the administration of Samuel Ortom and lost. He later contested for the Senate. During the e-registration exercise, he remained in Abuja and did not return home to mobilize supporters. He did not initially consult the Governor about his ambition and only informed him later that he intended to run for Senate.
Meanwhile, those who participated actively in the e-registration process worked hard to mobilize people at the grassroots. Jime bought the nomination form, contested, and lost. Like Tiza, he then began criticizing and attacking the Governor.
The Governor’s position was simple. He said he had brought some of these individuals into government to gain experience, but they suddenly wanted to contest elections without building any real grassroots support. He believed that if he imposed such candidates, the people would reject them, and he was not willing to take that risk.
Take Atu, for example. He cannot even win in his own polling unit. These are people who, politically speaking, have little relevance on the ground. They must understand that politics is not conducted on social media; politics is local. If you want to remain politically relevant, you must return home, identify with the people, and build support. You cannot stay in Abuja organizing press conferences against the Governor and expect to win elections.
Eventually, they all came together, met Akume, and began criticizing the Governor. But even Akume, has lost much of his political influence in Benue. If the Governor decides, these individuals would find it difficult to operate politically in the state because the party structure is firmly in the Governor’s hands.
In 2019, a candidate backed by Akume defeated him in the senatorial election. Even during the 2023 election campaign in Gboko, some supporters reportedly advised Governor Alia not to campaign too closely with Akume. There were even threats that some people would not vote for Alia if Akume was constantly seen around him.
The Akume they are now rushing to meet is not contesting any election. He no longer possesses the political value he once had, while the party structure remains firmly under the control of the Governor.
Question 2
Could Senator George Akume’s influence within the Presidency and APC leadership ultimately give him the upper hand over Governor Hyacinth Alia in Benue’s ongoing political power struggle?
ANSWER:
President Bola Tinubu understands the dynamics of politics. The President cannot simply wake up and change the outcome of direct primary elections won at the grassroots level in villages in favour of candidates who lost and have no strong political value or support.
Senate and House of Representatives elections are held on the same day, so there is a need to present candidates who are capable of winning elections. Therefore, I do not believe that any influence or plan being considered by the SGF will succeed, because the President knows what he is doing.
Those rushing to meet the SGF and making derogatory remarks about the Governor are only wasting their time. What Governor Hyacinth Alia is doing is aimed at ensuring that the votes the President received in 2023 are doubled in 2027. This is why he allows popular, grassroots-supported individuals to contest elections.
You cannot sit in Abuja and mislead the people. Whatever plans are being made, day and night, will not succeed.
3
Question: As the 2027 elections draw closer, can it be confidently argued that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s performance in office justifies a second term mandate from the people of Benue State?”
ANSWER:
I can confidently say that what the governor has achieved within three years has not been matched by any previous administration in eight years. In just three years, Governor Alia has constructed over 1,200 kilometres of roads across the state, connecting various local government areas.
In Makurdi alone, more than 300 kilometres of roads have been constructed, with additional projects still ongoing. Many of these roads had previously collapsed or deteriorated under past administrations. The underpass in the state capital has also been completed. In Gboko, over 70 kilometres of roads, including solar-powered lighting installations, are currently ongoing.
He has also built one of the largest fashion hubs, where over 5,000 youths have been trained as fashion designers. It is a Federal Government-supported project, sponsored and facilitated by the governor.
4.
Question: As the “Food Basket of the Nation,” what is the government doing to attract agro-processing industries and agro-based factories to Benue State to create jobs and add value to agricultural produce?
ANSWER:
It may also interest you to know that the governor has revived and supported several industrial and economic initiatives, including the fertilizer blending plant. As I speak, a number of Chinese investors are coming into Benue State because it is endowed with about 42 mineral resources, including gold, lithium, zinc, and others. These investors are establishing factories to process these minerals locally before export, thereby creating more jobs for our people. We are currently attracting more foreign investors than ever before. At present, Benue State is no longer dependent on importing fertilizer. The governor has subsidized fertilizer for farmers, making it available at N22,000 per bag through the fertilizer blending plant located in the industrial area of Makurdi. In the open market, fertilizer sells for about N48,000, but the government provides it to farmers at a subsidized rate of N22,000. I personally purchased four trailer loads of fertilizer for distribution to people in my constituency.
Governor Alia has also made notable achievements in the health sector and industrial development, including support for a cancer treatment centre and initiatives that promote manufacturing. Before he assumed office, healthcare facilities were not functioning optimally. I used to travel to Abuja for medical treatment, but today the Benue State University Teaching Hospital has been upgraded and improved to the extent that even the governor’s family now receives treatment there.
Healthcare facilities across the state have been renovated and equipped with modern medical equipment. The governor is positively impacting the lives of the people. On my part, I am implementing a pet project through which women are provided with healthcare cards that enable them to access medical services free of charge.
5: Question: Insecurity is not a challenge peculiar to Benue State alone, as many states across Nigeria face similar security threats. What specific measures has the government put in place to address these challenges, protect lives and property, and restore peace in affected communities?
Answer:
The issue of insecurity in Benue State did not begin with the current administration; it has persisted for more than a decade under previous governments. However, upon assuming office, Governor Hyacinth Alia introduced a security outfit known as Operation Anyam Nyor to address the security challenges facing the state.
The outfit works closely with local communities, the military, and other security agencies in intelligence gathering and information sharing. Many of the attacks witnessed in Benue are not necessarily carried out by residents of the affected communities. Security experts often distinguish between “base insecurity” and “mobile insecurity.” Base insecurity involves criminal elements operating within a community, while mobile insecurity refers to attackers who move into an area, carry out attacks, and quickly leave.
What Benue is currently experiencing is largely mobile insecurity. Operation Anyam Nyor collaborates with other security agencies by providing actionable intelligence to help prevent and respond to such attacks. In addition, the governor established the Benue State Homeland Security Department, which works alongside the Civil Protection Guards and Forest Guards to strengthen security across the state.
These initiatives are gradually yielding positive results, as they have improved coordination among security agencies and enhanced efforts to reduce insecurity in the state.
