***Warns FCT minister against political interference as Rainbow Coalition seeks foothold in state
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has warned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against dragging the state into his political calculations, declaring that Benue is neither Rivers State nor available for political negotiations.
Alia, in a pointed response to Wike’s recent comments and political activities in Benue, said the state’s future would be determined by its people, not by political arrangements brokered elsewhere.
“Benue is not Rivers and I’m not Fubara,” the governor declared, drawing a distinction between his administration and the political crisis that has engulfed Rivers State.
The governor’s position comes amid reported moves by Wike to expand his political influence in Benue through his Rainbow Coalition, which has reportedly attracted political figures in the state, including former governor Gabriel Suswam and Senator George Akume, according to the report.
Alia’s response was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Social Media Communications, Asortar James Asortar.
The political tension also follows Wike’s challenge to state governors to demonstrate how they spend federal allocations and other public funds under their control.
Wike had reportedly said Benue receives about N30bn monthly, like other states, and called on Alia to make records available to the public to show how the money was being spent.
The FCT minister made the remarks while canvassing support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
However, Alia’s response has turned the disagreement into a broader contest over political influence and the right of Benue people to determine the state’s political direction.
The governor maintained that Benue would not be treated as a political commodity to be traded through private negotiations, insisting that decisions about the state must reflect the wishes of its people.
The confrontation comes as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with competing interests seeking to strengthen their positions across the country.
Some political groups in Benue have also reportedly opposed attempts by the Rainbow Coalition to establish a foothold in the state, warning that they would resist the move.
Neither the reported coalition-building efforts nor the governor’s remarks, however, establish the extent of Wike’s political influence in Benue.
For now, the exchange has placed the relationship between the Benue governor and the FCT minister under scrutiny, with public accountability and political interference emerging as competing themes in the dispute.