DAN ONJEH: A POLITICAL SOCIOPATH AND APOSTLE OF DEMOCRATIC TRAVESTY
By Morgan Adikwu
At a time when democracy in Benue State is under siege, Comrade Dan Onjeh has once again exposed himself as a political sociopath, willing to trample on democratic principles in blind loyalty to Governor Hyacinth Alia. His recent statement defending the unlawful purported removal of Justice Maurice Ikpambese as Chief Judge of Benue State is not just a display of sycophancy but a dangerous endorsement of executive lawlessness.
It reveals his utter disregard for the rule of law and the sanctity of the judiciary, proving that he thrives on manipulation, deceit, and impulsivity in his political engagements. Even more disturbing is Onjeh’s deafening silence on the glaring marginalization of Benue South in terms of appointments and infrastructural development under Alia’s administration—the very zone he aspires to represent. His failure to challenge the administration’s lopsided governance, which sidelines his own people, further exposes his opportunism and complete lack of political integrity.
One would have expected that after the widespread condemnation of this constitutional abomination by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Benue State APC, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties in Benue, civil society groups, and individuals, Onjeh would exercise caution.
But no, he has taken it upon himself to justify this travesty, demonstrating an inflated sense of self-importance and an absolute lack of empathy for democratic norms. His defense of this political atrocity is even more disgraceful than that of the compromised members of the Benue State House of Assembly who orchestrated the charade.
Had Onjeh won any of the elections he contested for the Senate, would he have turned the chamber into a platform for defending executive impunity and legislative recklessness? His actions confirm that his political aspirations were never about public service but self-aggrandizement.
Onjeh’s claim that Governor Alia acted within the law is not just laughable but a dangerous misinterpretation of the Nigerian Constitution. By cherry-picking sections of the law to suit his narrative, he exposes his constitutional intellectual bankruptcy and proves beyond doubt that he is more concerned with personal survival in the Governor’s inner circle than with upholding democratic values.
His opportunism has reached such levels that he no longer pretends to serve the people—his only allegiance is to power and control, even at the cost of eroding public trust in institutions.
For someone who once masqueraded as an advocate of good governance, Onjeh has now fully embraced the role of a political attack dog, ever ready to defend any illegality as long as it aligns with the Governor’s interests. His political career is not defined by competence but by his willingness to do the dirty bidding of those in power. This is a classic hallmark of a political sociopath—manipulation, lack of integrity, and a relentless pursuit of self-serving ambitions.
Just as legal professionals who participated in this judicial assault should face consequences, the international community must also take note of enablers like Onjeh and declare them unfit for political or civic engagement. His complicity in the systematic destruction of democratic institutions in Benue makes him a threat to governance and civic participation.
Civil society organizations must raise their voices against such individuals and ensure that opportunists like Onjeh are held accountable for their roles in legitimizing authoritarianism.
Dan Onjeh’s endorsement of the Chief Judge’s illegal removal is not just an affront to the judiciary; it is a direct attack on every citizen who believes in the rule of law. His words and actions should be met with firm rejection, and he must be made to bear the consequences of his reckless justifications.
Benue deserves better than Onjeh’s brand of opportunistic, manipulative politics. If democracy must thrive, the people must rise against self-serving political actors who place personal ambition above the collective good. The disgrace he has brought upon himself will not be forgotten, and history will remember him not as a leader, but as a political mercenary who undermined democracy for his own gain.
