By Aondoakaa Tersugh Daniel 22/07/2026

Scripture records that when the woman caught in adultery was dragged before Jesus, no accuser could cast a stone. That was the wisdom of Christ, exposing the emptiness of men who judge others while carrying heavier weights themselves. Bring that same wisdom into Benue politics today and the picture changes completely. The very offenders would rush to cast stones first, not the innocent.

This is not blasphemy. It is simply what happens when a fallen clergyman denies the altar its power to protect him and instead adopts a doctrine foreign to Christ, one where a bite on the nose earns a bite on the buttocks, and a finger pointed in accusation gets bitten off in return. That is the spirit driving the Chat GPT armchair Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Tersoo Kula, who in an exercise of historical whitewash and naked hypocrisy, cast a stone at Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa SAN, the authentic PDP gubernatorial candidate for the coming elections.

Kula painted Aondoakaa as a man unfit for public office, lacking the integrity leadership demands. Let us then, without flinching, place the integrity of Chief Hyacinth Iormem Alia under the same light. If the story of Demas, who abandoned Apostle Paul for love of this present world, were ever rewritten for Benue, Alia’s name would sit at the center of that betrayal.

The earliest cracks in Alia’s integrity showed at his own ordination. It is alleged that the late Bishop Atule Usu refused to ordain him, yet a week later Alia was ordained in a solitary, unusual ceremony. Bishop Usu is remembered to have voiced doubt about him, saying he too was merely a servant of God and that only God truly knows His own. Alia’s ordination itself, by this account, was already clouded.

His journey into healing ministry carries a similar shadow. Pentecostal crusades had already taken root in Tiv land, and in Igboland Fr Ede drew massive crowds through healing masses. Around the same period, one Sam Zuga returned from years in Yorubaland where he mastered herbal mixtures, oils, and ointments of real potency. Granted space at St John’s Day Secondary School field, Zuga began selling his products openly, and people testified that they worked. Crowds grew. Soon Zuga folded religion into his trade and opened his own ministry, despite never being ordained a pastor or bishop anywhere.

Alia, watching Zuga’s fame rise, allegedly launched his own healing ministry soon after, selling blessed water, salt, and anointing oils. Where Zuga added religion to merchandise, Alia added merchandise to religion. The parallel is not flattering.

Allegations trailing his private conduct with women are not the point of this piece and remain his own business. But when a man’s name is dragged through mud this thick and this often, integrity is not the word that comes to mind.

In governance, the pattern continues. Benue’s wage bill remains undisclosed. Internally generated revenue is treated as classified information. The promise to resettle IDPs in their ancestral homes remains exactly that, a promise, gathering dust while displaced Benue people wait. None of this reflects transparency or accountability, the very hallmarks integrity demands of leadership.

Kula went hunting for a speck in Aondoakaa’s eye while standing blind before the log lodged in both eyes of his own principal. On the question of integrity, Alia has no moral standing to interrogate any gubernatorial candidate on a credential he himself does not possess.

The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has celebrated the Head of the Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Niger Delta University, Prof. Philips Okolo, on his 57th birthday. The celebration, held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Yenagoa, was attended by journalists, academics, friends and well-wishers from within and outside Bayelsa State.

Speaking at the event, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Johnson Alalibo, described Okolo as a distinguished scholar who had made significant contributions to his field. Alalibo said his relationship with Okolo dated back to their time at the Government House and later at the Institute of African Studies, now the Institute of Peace and Security Studies.

He said they subsequently met again at the Department of Political Science, Niger Delta University, where Okolo currently heads the Institute of Peace and Security Studies.“Prof. Philips Okolo is a very cerebral personality. He has carved a niche for himself in every area of his specialisation,” Alalibo said. He commended the turnout of NUJ members at the celebration, saying it reflected the celebrant’s relationships and goodwill within the journalism community.

Alalibo also highlighted Okolo’s contributions to peace, security and governance through research, scholarly publications and mentorship. Responding, Okolo thanked the Bayelsa NUJ, friends and well-wishers for celebrating with him, saying he was grateful for their support and goodwill.

By Aga Samuel Imoter, Jalingo

Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has received the 2026 Golden Image Presidential Excellence Award in the International Category for his contributions to peacebuilding, security, humanitarian service, leadership and sustainable development.

The award was presented in Monrovia during Liberia’s 179th Independence Anniversary celebrations and the 16th edition of the Golden Image Award.Kefas received the honour from Liberia’s Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, in the presence of government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners and other guests.

The organisers said the Golden Image Award, coordinated by the National Secretariat of the Golden Image Award in collaboration with Liberia Crusaders for Peace and in association with the Liberian government, recognises individuals and organisations for contributions to peace, security, humanitarian service, leadership, investment and sustainable development.

According to the organisers, Kefas was selected following a process that assessed his record in public service and leadership initiatives.They cited his administration’s efforts in peace and security, education, youth empowerment, social inclusion and development as factors behind the recognition.

The Taraba State Government dedicated the award to the people of the state, describing it as recognition of their resilience and support for efforts to promote peace and development.The government said the honour would further strengthen its commitment to peace, human capital development and inclusive growth in Taraba State.