Petition for the Benue State House of Assembly to step down  the Confirmation of Associate Professor Timothy Yangien Ornguga as Commissioner-designate in Benue State

The people of Benue State will be directly impacted by the leadership decisions made today. Civil servants, legal professionals, students, and every citizen who depends on a functional, humane, and accountable public service are at risk. As former students of Dr. Timothy Yangien Ornguga at the Benue State University Faculty of Law have revealed, his methods as a lecturer were cruel, demoralizing, and psychologically abusive. In one instance, an assessment required students to spell his full name, including his Tiv middle name "Yangien," which many non-Tiv students didn’t know. Those who failed were penalized not for their knowledge of the law but for not knowing his personal name. In another case, he boasted in class about promising a student an F and told us how he enjoyed failing students — even discussing it proudly with his spouse. These are not isolated experiences. Many students carry scars from enduring his classes. If someone with this temperament and conduct history is allowed to assume a public leadership position, the mental and emotional well-being of public workers and stakeholders in his ministry will be at serious risk.

This is about more than one appointment. What is at stake is the credibility of public leadership in Benue State. It is about ensuring that public offices are not handed over to individuals with histories of intimidation, cruelty, and a blatant disregard for human dignity. Dr. Ornguga has demonstrated a pattern of behavior that raises red flags about his ability to lead in a public setting. Public service demands empathy, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to justice and equity. Based on the testimonies of those who interacted with him directly, it is reasonable to question whether Dr. Ornguga possesses these qualities. If he becomes Attorney General or leads any ministry, the same toxic energy that traumatized students in his classroom will be transferred into the very institutions meant to serve the public good. The consequences could be severe, especially for subordinates who dare to have independent thought or make honest mistakes.

The Benue State House of Assembly must treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. We cannot ignore the overwhelming testimonies of maltreatment, humiliation, and psychological harm inflicted on students under Dr. Ornguga’s tutelage. Public outcry has been ignored before, and it led to disastrous appointments. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake. The Assembly must demonstrate that it listens to the people and holds nominees to a higher ethical and psychological standard. We therefore call for the immediate suspension of Dr. Ornguga’s confirmation process and recommend the establishment of an independent committee to thoroughly assess his psychological fitness to hold public office or even continue lecturing in a university setting. Anyone who proudly inflicts academic pain on students and finds pleasure in their failure has no place in public leadership.

This is not political. It is a matter of principle, safety, and the mental health of those who may come under his authority. The government owes the people better than silence and rubber-stamp confirmations. Leadership must be earned, not imposed on the people at the risk of their dignity and well-being.

In 2016, a similar nomination in Kaduna State was withdrawn after public outcry over allegations of student abuse by the nominee. The state government at the time acknowledged that emotional maturity and character are as important as professional qualifications.

The following are links to several facebook posts that decry the quality of nomination of Dr. Ornguga as well as highlight his discreditable records:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1B1nieWRoH/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BrnUZDJbg/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ByPmCRZfy/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16nRH8stVy/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16tMeqd26Y/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16hxPfavWG/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19qkqp6SiT/​

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CSV4MXbHD/?mibextid=wwXIfr​

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02RcYZfb6dr2z76DqU2mBpJf2FSCnqRDP2pQBBTAdtKK69ZoQn1RckGuAddueRe7CMl&id=100053461085776&mibextid=UyTHkb

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We the undersigned demand that the Benue State House of Assembly:

1. Step down the nomination of Dr. Timothy Yangien Ornguga as Commissioner or to any position of public leadership in Benue State

2. Constitute an independent committee to investigate Dr. Ornguga’s conduct as a lecturer, with a specific focus on allegations of psychological abuse, intimidation, and sadistic behavior toward students

3. Subject Dr. Ornguga to a thorough psychological evaluation to determine his fitness for both public office and academic instruction

4. Establish and enforce clear ethical guidelines and screening procedures for all political nominees, including a review of past behavior and public testimonies

5. Uphold the principles of justice, accountability, and public safety by ensuring that individuals with records of cruelty, abuse of authority, or sadistic inclinations are barred from positions of power

Benue deserves compassionate, competent leadership. Let your voice be heard. Sign and share this petition today.