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From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Benue Diaspora Vanguard has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to understand do something about the constant depreciation of Naira, explaining that it has reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians, hence the hardship been experienced.
In a statement by the Benue Diaspora Vanguard’s coordinator, Dr Peter Aper over the weekend, the leaders commended the President for showing resilience and commitment to stabilising the economy within few months in office despite challenges.
Aper noted that as a Diaspora movement that contributes to the GDP of the country, the group found it expedient to bring to the attention of Mr. President actions of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume as he continues to fight the governor of Benue State, Fr Hyacinth Alia.
“It is appalling to see such a supposedly respectable personality in the person of the SGF who occupies a top position in your government to lead a consistent onslaught against his own governor within the same party for reasons that no one knows till date,” part of the statement read.
The group described the acts of Akume as unjustified, negative and retrogressive in all ramifications.
“Mr President, just for an instance, it is important to refer to the precedent for making appointments into federal offices in the past administrations where slots due to each state was left to the sole discretion of sitting governors including the opposition governors.
“It is therefore the highest form of injustice and injury to the state if Governor Hyacinth Alia PhD is denied such privilege because of the over bearing influence of the SGF.
‘Mr President, all federal government appointments so far from Benue do not have the imprimatur of the sitting governor who is by convention, protocol and hierarchy the leader of the party in the state. This should be corrected to bring stability in the polity and to preserve the future of APC in the state.
“We wonder if the SGF is by this actions and many others is consciously derailing the party at the grassroots as this particular incident does not show good intentions for the party and the state as well as the country at large.
“What becomes of the already existing political structure of Barr Emma Jime who has held the Party flag twice in the state? Does the SGF prefer to destroy existing political support base of Mr President than to consolidate?
“Mr President, for your continuous magnanimity, several other appointments have followed from Benue with the governor having no single nominee or input on such appointments unlike elsewhere including opposition states as earlier mentioned. Your Excellency, Mr President must come to our rescue if you love the state.
“Going forward Mr President, in order to restore the confidence of Benue people who voted for you massively, it is important to direct a clear template on nominating appointees from states for federal appointments. The template will eradicate the excessive influence of few people like Sen George Akume who undeservedly drop your name to strengthen their self serving schemes.
“Clear authority must be reverted to the governors or the party as Mr President so directs. This would expand the inputs of governors in appointments and ensure a full sense of belonging. As it stands in the appointments from Benue so far , the SGF is only building himself and household against the collective interest of the state.
“We also appeal to Mr President as the leader of the party to make a statement on the leadership hierarchy of the party in the states with sitting governors . This would restore order and minimize incidents of factionalization as experienced in most states such as Benue,” he added.
The group further highlighted the transformational strides of the governor in spearheading critical infrastructure, revival of health sector, education reforms , boost in agriculture , improved staff welfare and improved transparency in the handling of state fiances.
