Kwankwaso Blasts Governor Alia's Governance After Peter Obi's Benue Visit Disruption

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who was the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, has strongly criticized Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia. Kwankwaso asserted that Governor Alia requires further education in effective governance, following the recent disruption of Peter Obi's visit to the state. These comments were made during an interview on "Untold Stories with Adesuwa," where Kwankwaso discussed the incident involving a group of protesters who obstructed the convoy of Peter Obi, the NDC presidential flagbearer, during his trip to Benue.

Obi's visit aimed to offer condolences and solidarity to residents affected by insecurity, particularly families impacted by the 2025 attacks in Yelwata. His convoy was halted on the Makurdi-Gboko road as he attempted to reach the affected community. The Benue State Government, however, denied any involvement in the blockade, stating that Governor Alia had not received official notification of Obi’s visit. Solomon Lorpev, the Benue Commissioner for Information and Culture, challenged those making allegations of government involvement to provide proof.

Conversely, the Benue Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, confirmed that the NDC had indeed informed the police command about Obi's planned visit, leading to the deployment of security personnel. However, Nwadiogbu clarified that the party did not instruct the police to forward its notification letter to the governor.

Kwankwaso characterized the entire controversy as “unfortunate and unnecessary,” noting that he had engaged with some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who also expressed displeasure over the incident. He stated, “What happened in Benue was unfortunate and was unnecessary, and I can tell you I had the opportunity to talk to one or two people on the side of APC; they were very angry because he, the governor, shouldn’t have done that.”

The former governor further lamented that some state leaders tend to disregard counsel once they assume office, stressing the importance of political figures remaining receptive to learning and guidance. “You see, the problem of these governors generally is once you go into government house, you think we have defeated everybody and they are not looking for any advice,” Kwankwaso remarked.

He also touched upon Governor Alia’s political background and his relationship with George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a former Benue governor. Kwankwaso recounted, “My colleague, my brother, who was also a 1999 governor, and we were in the senate together, now, the SGF. Akume, George Akume, brought him from the church. I don’t think he was a politician. I never heard his name.”

Kwankwaso emphasized that political experience and continuous development are crucial for anyone aspiring to govern a state effectively. He elaborated, “You see, this tutorship: you can’t just become governor day one even if you are in politics, even if you are senator, or house of reps, there are certain things that you will lie low and learn, and then you build your knowledge, then you become a successful governor, and then you become a tutor yourself.” He added that governors should draw lessons from their predecessors while consciously avoiding past errors and striving for a deeper understanding of governmental processes. “While you are doing it, you should avoid the mistakes of the former governor or governors,” Kwankwaso advised. “For you to be a successful governor, you need to be a successful politician and someone who has learnt something.”

The former Kano governor also suggested that access to political power and extensive public resources can sometimes disconnect officeholders from political realities. He observed, “For somebody who came from nowhere and straight to the government house, he goes there with sirens; billions or trillions now are coming into the treasury. You think you have finished with everybody.”

Kwankwaso drew a comparison between the current political landscape and the era when he and other governors first took office in 1999, expressing his belief that governors then exercised greater authority than many of their present-day counterparts. “And that is why I don’t envy Bola Tinubu, who thought the governors that we have now are like governors in 1999, where people were in charge; now they are not in charge; they are just making mistakes, like the one you just mentioned in Benue,” he stated. When asked if his remarks specifically targeted Governor Alia, Kwankwaso unequivocally responded, “Oh yes, big mistake.”

In response to Kwankwaso’s criticisms, the Benue State Government issued a statement rejecting them. Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, described the remarks as unwarranted and advised Kwankwaso to concentrate on political matters within Kano State rather than meddling in Benue’s affairs.