WHY BENUE NEEES PROF SEBASTINE HON IN 2027
By Daniel Abur
Benue State stands at a historic crossroads. Years of unrelenting insecurity, economic challenges, institutional decay, and a deep erosion of public trust have left the people yearning not just for a change of government, but for a change in the quality and character of leadership. At such moments, societies do not need career politicians or transactional power seekers; they need statesmen, leaders whose lives already embody the values they seek to entrench.
Professor Sebastine Tar Hon, SAN, the Sema Wan U Tiv, fits that description.
Long before any talk of governorship ambition, Chief Sebastine Hon had already chosen a side, the side of the oppressed, the voiceless, and the forgotten. His life’s work has been defined by an unshaken commitment to justice, courage in the face of power, and a deep sense of responsibility to his people. His interest in leading Benue from 2027 should therefore be understood not as personal ambition, but as a response to a collective need.
Security: A Sacred Duty of Leadership
No discussion about Benue’s future can be honest without confronting its gravest challenge, which is insecurity. For years, Benue State has been battered by violent attacks, mass displacement of communities, destruction of farmlands, and the tragic loss of innocent lives as a result of herders’ attacks. Beyond the physical devastation lies an even deeper wound: the feeling among the people that their lives do not matter enough to those in power.
Addressing insecurity requires more than military deployments or press statements. It demands moral authority, strategic clarity, and the courage to confront both criminals and institutional failure. Professor Sebastine Hon possesses these qualities in abundance.
As a Professor of Law Practice and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Hon understands the legal and constitutional framework of security governance. He knows the respective responsibilities of the federal, state, and local governments, and how to leverage the law to demand action, accountability, and coordination. More importantly, he understands that security is not merely about force, it is about justice, intelligence, community trust, and effective institutions.
Chief Hon’s consistent advocacy for victims of violence in Benue State, his bold public interventions, and his recent open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the worsening security situation in the state reflect a leader who does not normalize bloodshed or reduce human lives to statistics. A man who truly values life will treat security as a sacred duty, not a talking point.
Equally important is trust. Insecurity thrives where citizens have lost faith in government. Professor Hon’s humility, accessibility, and long-standing engagement with grassroots communities uniquely position him to rebuild that trust, an essential ingredient for effective intelligence gathering, early warning systems, and community-based security initiatives.
Benue’s challenges are not only about resources; they are about governance. Abuse of power, disregard for due process, and weak institutions have compounded the state’s problems. Professor Hon has spent decades confronting these very issues from the outside, as a lawyer of repute who holds power accountable.
A man who has spent his life insisting that authorities must bow to the rule of law is uniquely qualified to wield power responsibly. Benue does not need a governor who must learn constitutional limits on the job; it needs one who already understands them and respects them.
In moments of crisis, Professor Hon has never hidden behind convenience. Whether through courtrooms, public statements, petitions, or open letters, he has consistently spoken truth to power. His willingness to voluntarily defend his people in a politically sensitive cases further underscores his belief that truth must be defended, regardless of who is involved.
Benue State needs a governor who will not whisper in Abuja but speak firmly, credibly, and persuasively in the language of law, reason, and moral authority.
Beyond the public battles lies a deeper qualification. Prof Hon’s humanity. Chief Hon has quietly sponsored students from all three senatorial districts of Benue State up to PhD level, mentored countless young professionals, supported widows, and funded community initiatives without fanfare. This is not charity as performance; it is service as a way of life.
A leader who has spent decades investing in people will naturally prioritize education, social welfare, justice, and inclusion. Development, after all, is not merely infrastructure, it is human dignity.
Benue’s problems are complex and interconnected. They require more than populism or improvisation. As an accomplished scholar, author, and public intellectual whose works shape legal thinking across Nigeria, Professor Hon brings intellectual depth and evidence-based reasoning to governance.
States fail when they are governed without ideas. Benue cannot afford that.
Perhaps one of Professor Hon’s most compelling qualities is humility. Despite his towering professional stature, he remains approachable, grounded, and deeply connected to ordinary people. He speaks to the poor with the same respect he accords the powerful.
In an era where power often intoxicates, Benue needs a leader whose feet remain firmly on the ground.
2027: A Moral Choice for Benue
Professor Sebastine Hon’s interest in the 2027 governorship presents Benue people with a rare opportunity, not merely to change a government, but to redefine leadership. His record predates his ambition. His service precedes his aspiration.
Benue does not merely need a new governor in 2027.
It needs a moral reset.
It needs a protector, not a predator.
In Professor Sebastine Hon, Benue has a compelling answer to that need. Not just to govern, but to heal, secure, and rebuild a wounded state.
