By Sar Terver
For over a year, the political climate in Benue State has been clouded by a cold war between two of its most influential figures: Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Governor Hyacinth Alia, a Catholic priest-turned-politician.
The prolonged feud between the two politicians not only fragmented the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, but also shaped public discourse and party dynamics across Benue.
The disagreement, which began shortly after the 2023 general elections, was rooted in a power struggle over key political positions.
At the heart of the conflict was the speakership of the Benue State House of Assembly. Senator Akume reportedly supported Hon. Becky Orpin of Gboko East, while Governor Alia threw his weight behind Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh of Gboko West.
Dajoh’s eventual emergence as Speaker was widely interpreted as a statement of independence from the new governor, signaling a brewing clash of authority between the two men.
Following mounting tensions, the paramount traditional ruler of the Tiv Nation, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, intervened by summoning both leaders to his palace in Gboko.
During that widely publicized meeting, the duo publicly embraced and pledged to put aside their differences for the sake of peace. At the time, the gesture was seen as a welcome relief, but, the truce would prove to be short-lived.
In the months that followed, hostilities quietly resumed. New tensions reportedly emerged over political appointments and control of the APC structure in the State.
What had once been a hopeful reconciliation became a distant memory, as both camps continued to pull in different directions, leaving party loyalists and the public in confusion.
It was not until Tuesday, June 25, 2025, that fresh signs of reconciliation began to surface. Photographs shared across social media showed Governor Alia visiting Senator Akume at his Maitama residence in Abuja.
The images, which also featured Hon. Regina Akume, wife of the SGF and a member of the House of Representatives representing Gboko/Tarka, captured the two men smiling and warmly embracing.
The visuals sparked a wave of reactions, with many interpreting the meeting as a potential breakthrough in the strained relationship.
Interestingly, the apparent reconciliation came just a week after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Benue in the aftermath of the Yelwata killings, where over 200 lives were lost.
During his visit, the president reportedly directed Governor Alia to form a peace and reconciliation committee comprising key stakeholders in the State and to lead them to Abuja for dialogue.
Analysts believe that Tinubu’s intervention may have provided the necessary impetus for the renewed engagement between Akume and Alia.
Although the images of unity have offered a glimmer of hope, public opinion remains divided.
Some residents welcome the move as a sign of maturity and statesmanship, particularly given the security and humanitarian crises currently facing Benue.
Others, however, are more skeptical, warning that similar gestures in the past have collapsed under the weight of ambition and unresolved grievances.
Observers point out that Benue, a state plagued by mass displacement, attacks by armed herders, and developmental setbacks, stands to benefit immensely from unity among its leaders.
Without synergy at the top, policy implementation and emergency response efforts have often been slow or inconsistent.
Many believe that if the renewed relationship between Akume and Alia is genuine and sustained, it could unlock meaningful progress in governance.
Still, caution lingers in the air. Benue people are watching closely, not merely for symbolic handshakes or choreographed photo sessions, but for tangible evidence of collaboration.
So far, there have been no joint public statements or shared policy announcements, leaving many to wonder if this latest embrace will endure.
As the days unfold, the weight of expectation rests heavily on both men. For Akume, a political heavyweight with deep party roots, and Alia, a grassroots favourite with a reformist image.
The choice is clear: either work together to heal a fractured political landscape or risk plunging Benue deeper into disunity.
Only time will tell whether the handshake in Maitama will translate into a handshake with history, or another chapter in a book of missed opportunities as usual.
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