The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Constituency Outreach, Dickson Tarkighir, who represents Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Benue State, speaks with DIRISU YAKUBU on the frosty relationship between federal lawmakers from the state and Governor Hyacinth Alia.

Why does Nigeria keep reviewing the 1999 Constitution instead of drafting a new one?

I think it is necessary for us to constantly amend our constitution to meet the changing times in our democracy. If you look at the American system, they have also had to amend their constitution, and there is even the 27th Amendment — that is a country of over 200 years. Whenever issues arise that the framers did not anticipate, you amend the constitution to meet those challenges.

I do not think that those who framed the 1999 Constitution anticipated that herdsmen would be trampling on people’s farmlands, claiming that they are indigenes of those places, or that cows could be taken to any part of the country for grazing. That is one of the amendments I think is necessary in this country, so that communities engaged in animal husbandry will do so in their own spaces, while those who are into farming will have theirs. The two cannot go side by side because one depends on the other for survival. Farmlands should be sacred to farmers, and herders should have ranches for animal husbandry.

The constitution also needs to address the fact that, as Nigerian, you cannot take every business everywhere, especially where the people don’t practise or accept such business. For instance, I cannot go to Sokoto and start rearing pigs and then demand land for that purpose, because pork is forbidden there. One of the biggest security challenges in this country is the way cattle roam everywhere. Many herdsmen use cattle rearing as a cover to commit crimes across our communities. This must be checked.

During the peak of the security crisis in Yelwata, you called for a Forward Operation Base to be set up there. How is the security situation in your constituency now?

When Yelwata was invaded, the President had to postpone his trip to Kaduna to visit Benue. He gave specific orders to the military that those who committed the crimes should be arrested, and he also ordered the deployment of forces to the affected communities. There has been deployment in my constituency, but it is not enough.

Just a few days ago, two people were killed in my local government. Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency has been the epicentre of the herdsmen crisis, and I can tell you this: 50 per cent of my constituents have been in Internally Displaced Persons camps for the past 10 years. They have not been able to go to their farms because of insecurity. Anytime they return to the farms, herdsmen attack, kill them, and then let cattle graze on their lands.

We must allow our people to return to their ancestral lands to farm. I have called on the Federal Government to establish Forward Operation Bases in communities that suffer incessant herdsmen attacks. That will deter further invasions. I know the military is overstretched due to widespread insecurity across the country, but they can still do better than what we see today. People need to return to the farms.

Former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), has advocated self-defence as a solution to the mindless killings. Do you support his position?

I completely agree with Gen. TY Danjuma. Our resources are not enough to recruit the number of military and paramilitary personnel needed to police our communities. For that reason, people should be able to access arms to defend themselves. Criminals carry AK-47 rifles, and the only way to respond is with an AK-47. We do not plan to attack anyone; we only want to defend our communities. Since the military is overstretched, communities should be allowed to maintain armouries.

It has been observed that Governor Alia and the state’s National Assembly members are having a frosty relationship. What do you think is responsible for this?

The governor is always calling us out, labelling us “Abuja politicians,” I mean, we the stakeholders who made it possible for him to win the election. As soon as he won, he said he did not want to work with us.

I have my mandate from my constituency, and the governor has his mandate for Benue State. What I have chosen to do is to focus on my own mandate and deliver as much as I can for my people. Where I have serious concerns with him is his response to the crisis facing my people. He is very nonchalant. He does not want to talk about the casualties. He does not want to acknowledge the number of those killed. He always tries to suppress that information.

How do you mean?

The people killed in Yelwata in a single day were over 250, but the governor reported only 56. He began with 48 and later adjusted to 56. Why suppress those figures? The number killed in Yelwata was about five times more than those killed in Plateau State. Yet, several governors went to sympathise with Governor Caleb Muftwang and his people because the information was in the public.

In our case, over 250 people were killed, but our governor did not want anyone to talk about it until the Pope mentioned it in Rome. Those of us who spoke out and revealed the figures were labelled enemies of the state. He allowed hostility against anyone who wanted the truth out.

But it is only when you put out the true figures that the Federal Government can determine the scale of intervention required. The President did not come because the governor invited him. The President came after hearing about it from external sources. I am very sure he decided to visit after hearing the Pope speak about it.

Do you think the governor could have averted the attacks?

After the attack, we heard that the governor had information two weeks earlier that Yelwata would be attacked, yet he did nothing. That is my concern. We have security challenges, and we need the governor to show leadership. Previous governors held security meetings in Yelwata more than five times with their counterparts in Nasarawa State, where these herders come from. My governor has never deemed it fit to hold such a meeting, call our people in Nasarawa, or even visit Yelwata. The security situation in Benue has overwhelmed him, and this is quite unfortunate.

No governor in the history of Benue State has received the level of resources this administration has gotten in just two years. If you want to arm community groups, why not? Just clear the land because we are at risk of attacks. If we clear the land and put security men there, there will be no grass for cattle to graze, and that will stop them from coming. Unfortunately, the governor has completely ignored us.

What is your project, ‘Dickson Tarkighir Scholarship,’ about?

Education is everything in any society. We started early by building classrooms and providing essential infrastructure that was lacking, so that young people can have access to a conducive learning environment and proper education. Our scholarship intervention began in 2024, when we reached 210 people, each receiving N50,000. This year, due to increased demand, we raised the number to 500 beneficiaries, still at N50,000 each. This is one of the highest scholarship packages in the state — even more than what the government gives individuals. We intend to expand as resources allow.

The clamour for scholarships in my constituency has been huge. When we started, many people called and sent emails saying they could not benefit. We promised to expand, and God willing, next year we will increase the number again, perhaps from 500 to 1,000. Disbursement will take place in September when the new academic session begins.

Some people advised us to reduce the amount to N20,000 per person, but we refused. If we are giving scholarships, they must be impactful. Even though N50,000 may still seem small, it can cover tuition in public universities and allow parents and students to also buy books.

What other empowerment programmes have you embarked on?

This year, we sponsored a mass wedding for 27 couples in Benue State and empowered each of them with N2m to start their lives. The funds were disbursed transparently, and the beneficiaries are happy. We have also provided jobs for young people. My constituency is the epicentre of the herdsmen crisis in the North Central zone. Because of this, marriages are delayed, young people lack jobs, and even farming which they used to rely on to start families has been destroyed. We decided to intervene.

We invited applications, and many people responded. But with limited resources, we could only support a few. Our target was 50 couples, but after screening, we discovered some applicants were only interested in the money. We focused on those truly in need. We trained them in business and then supported them. The challenges in our constituency motivated us to act — not just any past experience.

What kind of leader would you like to see take charge of governance in Benue come 2027?

We are in a democracy. In my constituency, we have peculiar challenges, and we also have our votes. It will be a transactional engagement between us and whoever comes to campaign. We will present our challenges. If they agree to address them, we will vote for them.

One of our biggest challenges is reclaiming our land for farming. Whoever seeks our votes must know the terrain and the routes these herdsmen use. We will also invite the private sector to cultivate the portions we cannot handle. If given the resources, Makurdi/Guma people can clear this land. Local government chairmen can hire bulldozers, suspend other projects, and focus on clearing farmland.

With prominent politicians like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark leaving the PDP for the African Democratic Congress, do you think President Bola Tinubu should be worried about the growing coalition against him?

The President has nothing to fear because he has achieved a lot in the past two years. He has increased our revenue base, and allocations to states have grown significantly. My state now receives as much as N27bn monthly. The immediate past governor of Benue received between N7bn and N8bn. Today, allocations have tripled, and this is courtesy of Mr President, who has been urging governors to “wet the ground.”

The President has also deliberately targeted infrastructure to develop the country. Construction is ongoing across Nigeria. Prices of some essential goods will reduce as the reforms take full effect.

I do not see a better alternative out there. None of the aspirants has told Nigerians what they would do differently from what the President is already doing. Come 2027, I believe President Tinubu will not face any real challenge.

Your current mandate has two years left. What should your constituents expect from you?

We are working to provide an enabling learning environment in my constituency. In one of our Community Secondary Schools, there was only one standing block. I constructed three new blocks, an examination hall, and an administrative block — transforming it into a brand-new school. We are also moving to another location to establish a new Community Secondary School, which will give more out-of-school children access to education.

We are also investing in health. I recently completed a 40-bed hospital in Daudu, which we intend to hand over to the Federal Medical Centre once it is equipped. We have also built primary healthcare centres across communities to treat basic ailments like malaria and snakebites.

Since about 60 per cent of my constituency is rural, we will consolidate on education and health interventions, but we are also ready to respond to other pressing needs. I don’t want to talk about 2027 now. I have a mandate from the people, and my focus remains on fulfilling it. (Sunday PUNCH)