HAS AONDOAKAA COMMITTED ANY CRIME?
By Iorliam Shija
The Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, appears to have finally found a scapegoat for the shortcomings of his media machinery. That scapegoat is Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for the February 6, 2027 election and, many believe, the man most likely to become the next Governor of Benue State on May 29, 2027.
Ordinarily, one might have ignored the constant attacks on Chief Aondoakaa by government media operatives and their social media foot soldiers. However, there comes a point when silence can be mistaken for weakness or acceptance.In Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God, a friend reminded Ezeulu about the nature of a great household:
“Do you not know that in a great man’s household there must be people who follow all kinds of strange ways? There must be good people and bad people, honest workers and thieves, peace-makers and destroyers; that is the mark of a great Obi. In such a place, whatever music you beat on your drum there is somebody who can dance to it.”
That wisdom remains relevant today. As government spokespersons such as Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Chief Solomon Iorpev, Special Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, continue their attacks on Chief Aondoakaa, they should understand that there are also people willing and able to challenge misinformation, test every allegation and defend facts.
The question therefore remains that What exactly is Chief Mike Aondoakaa’s offence? In the eyes of many Benue people, he has committed no crime. His apparent “offence” is that he secured the PDP gubernatorial ticket and has emerged as a formidable political force ahead of the 2027 election. If that were not the case, why has he become the target of sustained political attacks?
As government officials continue to beat the drums of propaganda, they should not assume that their narratives will go unanswered. Every allegation deserves scrutiny and every claim deserves examination.
When Governor Alia came into office, he enjoyed enormous goodwill. He won a landslide victory against his closest rival, Rt. Hon. Titus Uba, even without strong support from some local government areas such as Kwande. Furthermore, the removal of fuel subsidy shortly after his inauguration significantly increased government revenues, providing state governments with unprecedented financial resources.
Across Nigeria, many governors have utilized these post-subsidy revenues to execute and commission major infrastructure projects worth billions of naira. They are showcasing these projects as evidence of performance and justification for second-term ambitions. That should have been Governor Alia’s strongest campaign strategy.
Instead, many observers believe that substantial political energy and resources have been devoted to internal power struggles, battles over party structures and efforts to consolidate personal political control. The slogan of some of his supporters has been “No Alia, No Benue,” but Benue’s political history predates contemporary personalities.
The people of the old Munshi Province that later became Benue State began organized political participation long before independence. They are politically experienced, highly informed and capable of distinguishing between genuine leadership and political theatrics. Initial impressions may create excitement, but ultimately performance remains the true measure of leadership.
Today, despite numerous contract awards and repeated contract reviews, many citizens are asking difficult questions. They want to know why industrial actions and strikes have become frequent. They want explanations for declining public service efficiency. They want answers regarding the apparent weakening of institutions and systems that once functioned more effectively.
These are the issues that deserve the attention of government communicators. Rather than dedicating so much effort to attacking Chief Aondoakaa, many citizens believe the Governor’s media team should focus on explaining why Governor Alia deserves a second term. They should be highlighting achievements, defending policies and addressing public concerns.
Chief Mike Aondoakaa is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has handled some of the country’s most sensitive legal matters. If he had committed any genuine offence, the relevant institutions of state would have been capable of addressing it. Political propaganda would not be necessary.
The reality appears simpler. We are in an election season. As Chief Aondoakaa’s popularity continues to grow, political attacks against him have intensified. That is often the nature of politics. Yet the people of Benue are watching. They will ultimately separate facts from propaganda, performance from rhetoric and substance from distraction.
For now, those attacking Chief Aondoakaa may not realize that every attack is inadvertently increasing public attention on him. In their determination to diminish him, they may very well be helping to promote him. Time, as always, will deliver its verdict.
