Beni Lar: When Leadership Demands The Courage To Speak

At the first summit of North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to unveil 20-year Blueprint held at Abuja Continental Hotel, Hon. Beni Lar demonstrated what responsible leadership looks like when she courageously challenged a statement, “Plateau will never know peace until they fully integrate foreigners” as a condition for lasting peace. The remark singled out Plateau State as a State that will not have peace at all.

Rather than remain silent, Hon. Beni Lar took the microphone and respectfully confronted the issue, reminding the speaker who is a traditional ruler from the North that traditional leadership comes with a profound responsibility to promote unity, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding not narratives capable of deepening suspicion or division. She insisted on speaking to correct the wrong narrative that Plateau doesn’t accommodate non Plateaunians.

For a State renowned for its hospitality, cultural diversity and longstanding tradition of welcoming people from across Nigeria and beyond, it was understandable that the remarks singled out Plateau would attract a response. Hon. Beni Lar’s decision to speak up demonstrated that leadership is not merely about occupying a position, it is also about having the courage to defend one’s people when their identity and reputation are being questioned.

What made the intervention particularly significant was her character. She was bold without being disrespectful, firm without being provocative, and patriotic without being divisive.

That is the kind of leadership required in a society struggling with insecurity and mistrust, leaders who can challenge narratives they consider unfair while still leaving room for dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

Her action reflects a broader principle of public leadership, when the people you represent are spoken about in a manner you consider unjust, leadership requires the courage to stand up, speak clearly and defend their dignity without abandoning the pursuit of peace.

Plateau does not need leaders who remain silent when difficult issues arise. It needs leaders capable of engaging difficult conversations with courage, maturity and responsibility.

Hon. Beni Lar has once again demonstrated that leadership is not simply about being present at the table, sometimes, leadership means having the courage to take the microphone.

The NCDC summit seeks to establish a long-term framework through which the North Central can harness its enormous human and natural resources, strengthen economic integration among its states, attract sustainable investment, create opportunities for its people, and build a more prosperous, secure and resilient region over the next two decades.

Jesse Zwalda
16th September, 2026.