UAD demands resignations of Tinubu and Alia over Benue killings, slams slow crisis response.
Group accuses both leaders of neglect, political bias, and failing to protect vulnerable communities.
The United Action for Democracy (UAD) has demanded the immediate resignation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, following the recent wave of deadly violence in Benue State, which reportedly claimed nearly 200 lives.
In a statement issued on Monday, UAD described the killings in Guma and other communities as a “massacre” and strongly criticized both federal and state authorities for what it termed a gross failure in protecting lives. The statement was co-signed by the group’s General Secretary, Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, and its Convener, Barr. Gabriel Ojumah.
“The killings in Benue are horrific,” the group said, lamenting that the government’s slow and ineffective response highlights a pattern of neglect and disregard for the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
UAD slammed Governor Alia for what it described as a poor show of leadership, particularly in the wake of protests by aggrieved youths. The group argued that the governor only began to take visible action after public outrage grew, accusing him of showing more concern about the protests than the actual killings.
The group also faulted President Tinubu for what it described as a downplaying of the tragedy. Referring to a phone call between Tinubu and Governor Alia, UAD alleged that the true extent of the crisis was deliberately underreported. It accused the president of responding with indifference and failing to act decisively in the face of mass casualties.
“The president delayed his visit to the affected communities for five whole days. That delay alone is a disturbing sign of the administration’s lack of urgency in matters of life and death,” the statement said.
According to UAD, the leadership at both levels has failed the people of Benue and Nigeria, with their response to the attacks reflecting a government more focused on political interests than public safety.
Beyond the immediate security crisis, the group raised concerns about the economic motives behind the violence. It alleged that powerful interests are taking advantage of Benue’s rich agricultural and mineral assets, using the instability as a cover to exploit local resources without accountability.
UAD further accused both federal and state authorities of cracking down more harshly on peaceful protesters than on those behind the repeated attacks. “They are quicker to silence dissent than to confront the real sources of terror,” the group alleged.
The statement ended with a rallying call for the people of Benue and all Nigerians to demand justice, accountability, and the resignation of both President Tinubu and Governor Alia.
