By Ben Atonko
It would have been New Year tragedy on Friday, Jan. 2 in Ugba, the headquarters of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State had Learned Silk, Prof Sebastine Hon not exercised restraint and calmness.
The governorship hopeful was in Ugba on invitation of the local traditional council to celebrate Ugondo Day and be conferred a chieftaincy title.
The Ugondo people said they had found Prof Hon worthy of honours for his selfless service and fight for social justice.
According to them, the insecurity that has rendered many homeless in many parts of Benue State can only be tackled by the Legal Luminary because he has in many ways demonstrated capacity and willingness to deal with it and provide succour to the people.
It is said that Prof Hon has continued to distinguish himself as a versatile legal expert and humanitarian who would not go to sleep when people under his care are in dire straits. He is indeed, a very compassionate and caring man.
Renowned for his love for God and fellow being, many are jubilant by the mere talk that the senior lawyer will throw his hat in the ring for the Benue State’s most exalted seat, come 2027.
But this is his source of persecution.
The sweltering heat in Ugba seemed to amplify the tension that afternoon as the Logo council chairman, Mr. Clement Kav barred Prof Hon from receiving his chieftaincy title there.
Though Prof Hon indicated that he had been officially invited to Ugondo Day through a formal letter by the traditional council, the chairman insisted he must leave Ugba.
It started when Prof Hon and his family and well wishers arrived the residence of Mue Ter Ichongo, Chief Terngu Iorhuna, in Ugba town.
Few minutes after, the council chairman came in tow with a former Nigerian ambassador to Russia and governorship candidate in the 2011 general elections, Prof Steve Ugba.
The council chairman arrived the palace fuming with rage and shunned greetings from the royal father and Prof Hon.
In an outburst, the sturdly built man screamed, “I’ll never allow anyone to disrespect Alia [referring to the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia].
“We don’t want these guests in Logo.”
Disappointingly, Prof Ugba who is famed to have set remarkable academic records in the US and having served as a diplomat was quiet in the midst of all this.
They abruptly hopped onto one of the waiting vehicles including a pilot van, an SUV and a small car branded with Governor Alia’s image and zoomed off.
Prof Hon quietly left the traditional ruler’s residence to Hon. Iorkohol Ijir’s house where he was given a rousing welcome.
But there too, the council chairman came with a detachment of police led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and ordered that the Learned Silk should leave Ugba.
Though the crowd called the chairman’s bluff and persuaded Prof Hon, he refused to proceed to the Ugondo Day Venue.
He addressed the crowd that gathered at Hon Ijir’s house, saying his plan was not to stir trouble in Ugba or anywhere else in the state and so he would leave Ugba.
He thanked the traditional council and the people of Logo for the invitation, saying, “I believe the Logo community has welcomed me.
“I haven’t come to scatter the community so I pray that God bless you for offering me a title that has given some people sleepless nights.
“I also pray for those persecuting me.
“I haven’t come out for the contest, yet some people are restless so when I decide to… what will they do?
“I don’t want anybody’s blood to spill because of me so I’m going back and the title should be taken to me.”
The development resulted in a barrage of reactions in the social media.
“Professor Sebastine Hon SAN is a man of peace.
“He is going to leave Ugba as there’s uncertainty over his security in Ugba.
“The legal luminary is yet to even declare his intentions for 2027,” Mike Tavershima posted on Facebook.
Another user stated, “Somebody should tell the chairman that whenever he wants to have an event in Gboko, we will remind him of the Ugba saga simple…
“Prof Sebastine Hon SAN has a home (Gboko) where people operate freely…”
This is happening after a series of similar incidents in the past suggest the political space is being stifled by Governor Alia and his supporters.
In Sept. last year, the No Alia, No Benue group, a gang of hefty young men always dressed in black, chased away the Ter Gboko Chief Gabriel Shosum from a church gathering where the governor himself stirred the young men to action by his unkind words against the traditional ruler and former Speaker of the sate assembly, Hyacinth Dajoh.
It would have been a deadly clash by youths if Prof Hon had insisted on receiving his traditional title in Ugba that day.
His show of maturity, decorum and selflessness saved the day.
Many have described him as a role model and the face of a better Benue State tomorrow.
Apparently, the desperation to hold onto power by Gov Alia and the hordes of his overzealous apparatchik with their crass and crude politiking is badly stifling the democratic space.
This is a danger foretold.
All men and women of goodwill should look dispassionately at the unfolding autocratic events in Benue State and help it to keep the ethos of democracy.
Benue State had existed long before Alia and can exist in perpetuity after a mere mortal Alia exits power.
Atonko is the author of Bleeding Roads