MNYIM’S REINSTATEMENT: ALIA’S DECEPTION AND FEAR OF EXPOSURE
By Eneche Obochi
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s recent reinstatement of Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim, following his suspension and public humiliation, underscores a disturbing attempt to shield himself from the fallout of his own political deception. This move appears as yet another ploy to distance himself from the high-profile EFCC lawsuit he initially endorsed at the governors’ forum—misleading the presidency into believing he wasn’t among the governors who sanctioned it.
This calculated deceit has left fellow governors stunned and drawn condemnation from political observers, who see Alia’s actions as a betrayal of his colleagues and a disappointment to the people of Benue he represents. His public denial on national TV, widely viewed as a shocking display of shame, has embarrassed the nation before the international community, exposing his inadequacies as a leader unfit for public office by global standards.
The underlying motives for Mnyim’s initial suspension were troubling and politically charged. Also, governor Alia had relied on Mnyim to “perfectly arrange” the APC Benue State Chairman’s case in court—a task that failed spectacularly, leaving the administration scrambling for damage control. In a hasty bid to redirect blame, Alia scapegoated Mnyim, punishing him for the administration’s inability to manipulate the judiciary—a move that speaks volumes about the governor’s desperate and insincere leadership. By reinstating Mnyim after this betrayal, Alia only underscores his inconsistency, where principles are sacrificed in favor of self-serving maneuvers.
Adding to this intrigue are fears within Alia’s administration that Mnyim, privy to its inner workings, could reveal damaging information about alleged corruption, thereby validating accusations of misconduct. This possibility—of Mnyim potentially being used against the government—has fueled speculation that the reinstatement is an afterthought meant to secure his silence and protect Alia from future fallout.
Alia’s deceptive claim of ignorance regarding the EFCC lawsuit further reveals the governor’s chronic dishonesty. In a bid to distance himself from the lawsuit on national television, he attempted to deny involvement in a legal action he had previously supported, hoping to mislead both the presidency and the public. This empty denial, now exposed as a political sleight of hand, has eroded his credibility and raised serious questions about his integrity. The rationale behind Mnyim’s suspension in the first place reflects Alia’s pattern of evasion, as he repeatedly shifts blame rather than assuming responsibility—yet another example of his failure to embody the ethics expected of public office.
The Mnyim reinstatement saga also sheds light on the dysfunctional culture within Alia’s administration, marked by manipulation and personal vendettas. Alia’s closest advisors—Livinus Tsar, Paul Biam, and Moses Ternenger—seized on the court ruling to push Mnyim out as a scapegoat, using him as a shield for their own political failures. This atmosphere of coercion and mistrust within Alia’s inner circle further exposes an administration increasingly driven by paranoia rather than effective governance.
Mnyim’s acceptance of reinstatement has been met with strong criticism from the legal community in Benue, who view his compliance as compromising the dignity of the legal profession. Prominent legal voices have urged Mnyim to resign in protest, asserting that his continued presence only serves to legitimize an administration that has shown repeated contempt for the rule of law. His reinstatement, far from restoring integrity, only emphasizes the governor’s disdain for the principles of public service.
Ultimately, Mnyim’s reinstatement is not a testament to justice but rather a reflection of Alia’s erratic and deeply problematic leadership. His recurring falsehoods, self-serving maneuvers, and relentless pursuit of political advantage leave little doubt about his unsuitability for the office he holds. Alia’s administration, increasingly seen as steeped in dishonesty and manipulation, has become a regime profoundly misaligned with the principles of good governance and the dignity of Benue’s people.
