Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, says Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia requires more political tutelage to govern effectively, following the recent obstruction of Peter Obi’s convoy in the state.
Kwankwaso, speaking on Untold Stories with Adesuwa, described the September 8 incident on the Makurdi-Gboko road as ‘unfortunate and unnecessary’ and said the governor should not have allowed it to happen.
He linked the episode to a wider governance challenge among first-time governors who, he said, stop listening to advice after assuming office.
‘I don’t think he was a politician. I never heard his name,’ Kwankwaso said of Alia, recalling that the Benue governor emerged with the support of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Benue governor, George Akume.
According to him, winning an election is not enough to govern successfully.
‘For you to be a successful governor, you need to be a successful politician and someone who has learnt something,’ he said, adding that leaders must understand the workings of government, study the mistakes of their predecessors and acquire sufficient experience before taking office.
Kwankwaso described the Benue episode as a ‘big mistake’ and said it raised questions about the quality of political leadership at the subnational level. He also noted that the political environment governors operate in today is markedly different from 1999, a shift he said presents additional challenges for President Bola Tinubu in managing relations with state governors.
Benue govt hits back
In a swift reaction, the Benue State Government accused Kwankwaso of meddling in its affairs.
Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, described the comments as an ‘unfortunate and unwarranted insult’ and urged the former Kano governor to focus on political issues in Kano State.
Kula rejected Kwankwaso’s account of Alia’s emergence, insisting the governor was overwhelmingly elected by the people of Benue and retains a popular mandate.
The dispute stems from the obstruction of Obi’s convoy as the NDC presidential candidate travelled to Yelwata to meet families affected by the 2025 attacks. Obi alleged that suspected political thugs blocked his movement, while the Benue government denied involvement, stating that the former Anambra governor failed to properly notify the state of his visit.
The police said they were informed of the visit for security purposes and that the circumstances surrounding the blockade were being investigated.
The exchange has added a fresh political dimension to the controversy over Obi’s disrupted Benue visit, with Kwankwaso framing it as a failure of governance and the Alia administration dismissing his intervention as unwarranted criticism.