In the midst of the growing concerns about persistent insecurity in Benue, Professor Leonard Karshima Shilgba, founding member of the Congress of all progressives (APC) in Benue and former president of the ruling Board of Nabteb, has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ones called with the opposition of vehicles for the disappointment of an emergency state in Benue.
On the other hand, the President urges to defend the pragmatic constitutional reforms, including the creation of the State Police and the legal institutionalization of the local security attire.
In a detailed letter entitled “A constitutional and moral refutation to the call to the emergency rule in the state of Benue”, Professor Shilgba provided a convincing analysis of the constitutional provisions, historical precedents and political ramifications surrounding the statements of emergency rules in Nigeria.
Referring to section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (according to amended), Prof. Shilgba argued that current security challenges in Benue, although severe, do not comply with the threshold required for an emergency state.
“The state government remains operational, and there are no indications of a total breakdown of the law and the order or governance machinery that would require an emergency rule,” he wrote.
Benue's situation contrasts with previous cases such as Plateau State in 2004 and Ekiti State in 2006, where the emergency rule was implemented only after a political or complete security collapse. According to Shilgba, Benue has not experienced a failure of the constitutional order and, therefore, the emergency powers would be excessive and potentially harmful.
Professor Shilgba expressed a deep concern for what he described as the “politicization of insecurity”, warning that the selective emergency rule application could damage the credibility of the federal government.
“There are similar or worse security situations in states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Borno and Nasarawa, however, there have been no emergency rule orders in those states,” he observed, suggesting that the recent impulse in Benue can be politically motivated.
He criticized what he referred to as “the elites of Benue Armando the bloodshed for political profits”, pointing out that some of those who now advocate the emergency powers were silent or accomplices during the previous administrations when a similar or worse violence occurred.
Highlighting the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia since he assumed the position in May 2023, Professor Shilgba listed several initiatives aimed at improving security architecture in the state:
Benue State Civil Protection Guards (BSCPG): a local force of 5,000 members with 100 vehicles and 600 motorcycles, designed to support federal forces.
Operation 'Anyam Nyor': a joint workforce of multiple agencies that addresses bandidry, kidnapping and community violence.
Digital surveillance: Advanced surveillance systems deployed in strategic locations, including schools, markets, farms and border communities.
IDP Action Plan: A five -year roadmap to support more than 500,000 people displaced internally, including agricultural training and resettlement support.
Strengthened laws against grazing: reinforcement of the 2017 legislation that prohibits open grazing.
Peace consolidation measures: Continuous dialogue with traditional and religious leaders to promote reconciliation in volatile areas.
Military requests: an official appeal to the Federal Government for more military bases in security points such as Guma, Logo, UKUM and Kwande LGA.
Professor Shilgba described this as evidence that the Government of the State of Benue is actively responding to security threats and should be supported, not undermining, by the federal government.
Instead of emergency statements, Professor Shilgba asked President Tinubu to lead a national effort to withstand constitutional reforms. He strongly defended by a dual police system, which trained the states to establish their own police forces while retaining the Federal Police for national threats and interstate crimes.
He also recommended the establishment of State Security Trust funds, amendments to sections 214–216 of the Constitution and clearer definitions of the governor's role as “Security Director.”
“The dilemma between responsibility and authority in Nigeria's security architecture is a constitutional defect. Benue's tragic security history is a consequence of this defect,” he argued.
In line with these proposals, he also urged that the groups of local guards such as the Joint Civil Task Force (CJTF), Amotekun (Southwest) and Ebubegu (Southeast) receive legal and federal recognition, which allows coordinated responses at the base level.
Beyond security hardware and constitutional reform, Prof. Shilgba advocated a greater federal dialogue with community leaders, addressing root causes such as land disputes, ethnic distrust and socio -economic deprivation.
He reiterated that the national unity and the harmony of the community must have priority over partisan interests.
Citing the metaphor of President Tinubu's own of a recent economic reform speech, “Café cannot be hurried to be prepared.” Shilgba emphasized the need for sustainable and realistic approaches for Nigeria's complex security problems.
“I know you are a practical leader, who is not interested in cosmetic approaches. The emergency rule is a temporary solution, not a permanent cure,” he told the president.
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