Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has been asked by the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum to “watch” him because he is allegedly conspiring with opposition politicians to undermine the APC in the North-Central region.
In a statement issued Monday, the North-Central APC Forum’s chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, made the request.
Following reports of a new alliance between Akume and Samuel Ortom, the immediate past governor of Benue State, against the current governor, Reverend Hyacinth Alia, the call was made.
In Benue, Akume and Alia have been fighting over who controls the party, while Alia’s government is proving Ortom’s rule superior.
The two former Benue governors appear to have allied themselves against Alia, though.
At a Thanksgiving celebration honoring the SGF over the weekend in Benue State’s Konshisha Local Government Area, Ortom—who defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, or PDP, while serving as governor—was one of the dignitaries.
Dr. Matthias Byuan, an Executive Director at the Federal Housing Authority, or FHA, is one of Akume’s biggest supporters, and the event was also planned to honor his 50th birthday.
In a statement, Alia’s chief press secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, criticized Ortom’s attendance at the function and charged him with not leading effectively while serving as governor from 2015 to 2023.
Through his spokesperson Terver Akase, Ortom made the following accusations:
higher federal funding for the Alia administration without meeting citizens’ expectations in tackling security and development issues.
In response to the development, the North-Central APC Forum expressed concern that the SGF was mingling with former governor Ortom, a prominent figure in Benue State’s opposition.
The North-Central APC Forum said in a statement signed by Zazzaga, who is a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 election, that it is concerning that the SGF has partnered with opposition leaders to oppose the APC government in Benue.
The Forum urged Tinubu to pay attention to the SGF, cautioning that the alliance between Akume and Ortom against Alia might cause the APC in the North-Central to become unstable.
The North-Central APC Forum has expressed concern over the coalition and gang-up against Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia that was formed by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chief Samuel Ortom, the immediate past governor.
Senator Akume, the SGF, has joined forces with Chief Ortom, a Benue opposition leader whose administration is currently being investigated by the APC government led by Governor Alia, to oppose the APC government in Benue State.
At the Thanksgiving celebration held in honor of SGF Senator Akume in Benue State’s Konshisha Local Government Area over the weekend, this unholy alliance was on display.
Any APC stakeholder should be alarmed by Chief Ortom’s prominent participation in the event, and his attacks on Governor Alia after it concluded leave us convinced that the SGF, Senator Akume, has joined forces with him to fight the APC governor of Benue State.
The group said, “The North-Central APC Forum is requesting that President Bola Tinubu watch the SGF because his alliance with opposition leaders like Chief Ortom has the potential to destabilize the APC in Benue and throughout North-Central.”
Furthermore, the North-Central APC Forum stated that it no longer believes the SGF can effectively lead the APC in the region.
The Forum, which had previously accused the SGF of making unfair appointments to benefit his Tiv kinsmen and urged him to lead the entire North-Central and stand as its leader, pointed out that Ortom’s alliance with him demonstrates that he has no interest in the APC and is only focused on his personal loyalty and control over Benue State’s resources.
“Senator Akume, the SGF, has lost the trust of the North-Central APC Forum because of his unholy alliance with Chief Ortom, which demonstrates his lack of concern for the advancement of Benue State and the North-Central region.
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Since Ortom has demonstrated a lack of concern for the welfare and dignity of the people in the past, Senator Akume would not form an alliance with him if he genuinely cared about Benue and the North-Central.
“As the APC administration is making a lot of effort to address the issues in Benue State, we are concerned that the SGF, who ought to be the head of the party in the North-Central, will join forces with shady opposition groups.
Senator Akume and Chief Ortom’s alliance is focused on Akume’s ambition to dominate Benue State’s government and resources, not on development. The entire North-Central APC Forum denounces this gang up,” it continued.
The fact that Akume could join forces with Ortom, who boasted of having retired the SGF from politics while he was governor, shocked the APC Forum.
Benue State’s infrastructure and human capital were regressed during Ortom’s eight years as governor. The APC Forum questioned why the SGF, who leads the ruling party, would work with the PDP leader to topple an APC government.
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President Tinubu should call the SGF to order immediately, the Forum urged, warning that Akume’s romance with Ortom was not in the APC’s best interests.
“We implore President Tinubu and the APC’s national leadership to act swiftly in response to Senator Akume and Chief Ortom’s alliance against the APC government in Benue State, which is headed by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Since we don’t forget that Chief Ortom only recently, in October 2024, promised that the PDP would regain power in Benue in 2027, there is an urgent need for action.
It is reiterated by the North-Central APC Forum that the APC cannot afford to lose Benue State in 2027.
“To prevent the APC in the North-Central from becoming unstable, we urge President Tinubu and other leaders of our great party to take swift action,” the statement said.
