“Name and Shame Them” — Akume’s Aide Challenges Governor Alia to Submit Names of Politicians Allegedly Fueling Benue Insecurity to Tinubu

Terrence Kuanum, special adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has challenged Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to “name and shame” politicians he claims are behind the rising insecurity in the state. The call came after Alia, in a recent interview on Channels Television, alleged that certain politicians in Abuja and the National Assembly were orchestrating attacks in Benue, citing an interim report from a judicial panel set up by his administration. The governor promised to make the report public in the coming week but did not reveal the names of those allegedly indicted.

In response, Kuanum, speaking on behalf of the SGF, urged Alia to forward the names of those implicated to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Security Council. “Since His Excellency the Governor has chosen, perhaps as a result of how burning the issue is, to let the cat out of the bag before the administrative procedure, we urge him to make good on his word and expose those involved in the crime of aiding and abetting insecurity in his state,” Kuanum said in a statement on Saturday.

He criticized the expectation that Akume should publicly address the insecurity, saying such matters are better handled through official channels. He added that Akume has been actively involved in pushing for federal intervention in Benue’s security situation and noted that lawmakers from the state have consistently raised the issue on the floors of the National Assembly.

Kuanum also reminded Alia that proper administrative procedure requires such reports to be vetted and formalized into a White Paper before they can be considered the official position of the government. Nonetheless, he stressed that Alia’s public claims now carry national security implications and must be treated accordingly.

“If the governor truly has credible evidence, he should submit it to the president, the Federal Security Council, and publicly disclose who these enemies of Benue are,” he said.

The exchange comes amid ongoing speculation about a strained relationship between Akume and Alia, despite a reconciliation effort by the Tiv traditional council in April 2024.