Reactions are trailing the dissolution of the Benue State Executive Council by Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Executive Governor and chairman of the council. Apart from the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Joseph Alkali (as he then was), earlier this year, this is the first major shake-up by the governor since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
Fr. Alia had, at the end of the 12th (2025) meeting of the Benue State Executive Council on July 30, announced the dissolution of the council, a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula said. The statement named Barr. Moses Atagher, who served as Commissioner for Justice between 1997 and 98 as the new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Following the news, scores have taken to the social media space, with some lampooning some of those affected by the latest move by the governor, while others think the move is in furtherance of the ongoing reconciliation in the state.
Former Chief of Staff, Mr. Paul Biam and former Commissioner, Mr. Aondowase Kunde, are amongst those taunted most. Both have been accused of overzealousness.
Not much has been said about individual performances of the cabinet members, though. Nevertheless, the governor is praised for the choice of his new chief of staff.
“I don’t have a personal relationship with this man (Mr. Atagher), but he is a thoroughbred and has made indelible contributions to the progressive struggle in Benue State,” Manasseh Aondohemba, a member of the establishment camp of All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue State, said. Manasseh’s comment, one pundit says, might be a reflection of the feeling in his camp.
“When we got permission from NKST mission Keffi to initiate a church out of NKST New Karu in 2008, it was Bar. Atagher, who gave us land to start the church. The NKST New Nyanya, which is located in Angwan Tiv today,” James Atsa’am said, adding: “We were genuinely happy when he gave us the land.”
According to Dr. Terzungwe Kwagh-Aondo, university teacher, “Alia sacking his cabinet is the best thing since sliced bread.”
Dr. Kwagh’Aondo explained that “cabinet rejigging presents a viable opportunity” for the governor to set the state on a solid track. He should bring in eggheads. Recruit our brightest and the best. Flush out scandal-prone elements in his govt (government) and bring in folks who will make a 360-degree turnaround for the better.”
According to Barr. Vershima Tur, legal practitioner, the Fr. Alia administration “has been marred with crisis and controversies in the past two years” and “with the new Chief of Staff, there will be stability and a focus-driven business of governance due to his wealth of experience in both the public and private sector.”
Fr. Solomon Ukeyima, a humanitarian priest and Convener, Kyegh Sha Shwa (KSS), wrote: “Anyone who has no INTEREST in the INTEREST of the PUBLIC should not aspire or accept the PUBLIC office.”
“We must understand that appointments are temporary. You’re actually touchable. Act human,” Barnabas Akaazua, owner of Agro Hortiponics, stated.
Nguuma Shember, social media influencer and brand promoter has rhis to say: “The chief of staff should act as the central nerve of any governance operations and should felicitate crisis management,” and tasked the public to ask if “the sacked Chief of staff” was a bridge builder, closing the gap between appointees and the governor, ensuring alignment of state priorities with execution or he was managing crisis or fueling crisis.
