A group known as ‘Benue State Political Stakeholders’ on Wednesday raised concern over some groups trying to pitch President Bola Tinubu against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The group which makes up of elders and stakeholders in the state and led by Shimataver Atim-Atedze was reacting to insinuations, assumptions and allegations levelled against the SGF of trying to hijack government of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia as well as planning to succeed the President in 2027.
Two groups known as ‘Benue Patriots’ and ‘Benue Alliance for Good Governance’ had within a week addressed journalists separately accusing Senator Akume of trying to hijack Governor Alia’s government by planting his people.
Leaders of Benue Patriots and Benue Alliance for Good Governance, respectively, had at separate press conferences alleged the plan of Senator George to hijack Alia government as well as nurses presidential ambition.
“We implore Akume to focus on his role as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and abstain from interfering in the internal affairs of Benue State to the extent of undermining the authority of the governor.
“We firmly believe that Benue should be a shared resource for all its citizens, and no individual or family should monopolize its opportunities.
“We also gathered that he is cashing in on Mr. President’s alleged ill health, believing the President will be indisposed to run for a second term hence the need for him to do everything possible to challenge for 2027 presidency.
“As Benue indigenes, we shall be excited and feel blessed if one of us becomes the number one citizen of this entity called Nigeria. Sen. George Akume, no doubt, well fits into any leadership toga in this country including that of the presidency.”
Reacting to these allegations on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Benue Political Stakeholders said, “What we could decipher from the diabolical outings of those little boys, their primary premeditated target is to pitch the President, Bola Ahmad Tinubu against our illustrious son, Sen. George Akume and say that he is contesting for president. Their plot is at best naïve.
“For avoidance of doubt, our son, George Akume has had a very robust and deep relationship with president Bola Tinubu that has spanned decades.
“Both have shared common concerns and agitations over the wellbeing of the good citizens of this nation. When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed the mantle of leadership of Nigeria, he personally saw in our son the capability to serve in his government in the capacity of SGF.
“And since his appointment as can be attested to by all, Senator Akume has left no one in doubt of his burning dedication and commitment to the fulfillment of President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda for Nigeria.
“We wish to encourage our boys from Benue State to understand clearly that Sen. George Akume’s appointment as SGF was never and can never be about Benue State but the entire federation of Nigeria.
“It is curious therefore to see our boys attempting to reduce the hallowed office of the SGF to Benue content. This is ridiculous but further goes to explain how completely naïve, pedestrian and low informed those boys are.
“We would not bore our listeners trying to highlight all the inconsequential fronts under which our boys attempted to ridicule, malign and slander our dear Benue son Dr. George Akume with, because as far as we know, they were all lacking in compatibility or appropriateness and therefore not worth our addressing them serially.
The stakeholders stated that Sen. Akume has been pre-occupied with his office responsibility and giving the best of his capability complimenting the efforts of his principal, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the president’s quest to reposition our dear country for greater political and economic yields.
“For all those who understand the life and style of our son, Sen. George Akume, they can attest that he has always remained a dependable ally, a faithful and loyal servant to both his people and leaders,” the stakeholders submitted.
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