From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Senator George Akume, has stated that no one will go away with the party’s mandate again.
Akume stated this yesterday during a stakeholders meeting of the party held in Government House, Makurdi.
Recall that the immediate past governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he won the 2015 governorship election on the platform of the APC.
The SGF who spoke at the meeting through an elder statesman, Simon Shango, further debunked rumours making the rounds that he is at loggerheads with the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, saying “I have no rift with the governor. I’m totally in support of Alia’s administration and have no issues with him.”
He, however, noted that he understands the situation in which the governor has found himself especially coming from a non-political background.
“In the church all you need to say is an amen but the governor must appreciate our situation and that as politicians, we may be anxious and may not wait for amen but will start agitation and argument.”
He added: “This party, APC, stood by him and we all came out victorious together. This is to say that no one will go away with our mandate again but we will be having a meeting point which is at the centre.”
Akume who said he is the governor’s biggest succour in Abuja lamented that Benue State has remained an orphan in Abuja for the last eight years and that will not be the case again.
He appreciated the job that Governor Alia has done so far and pledged to continue to support him to take Benue out of the woods.
Shango who also represented the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Terlumun Utsev, told the people of the state that the duo of Sen Akume and Utsev remain their faithful servants and their ambassadors at the federal level.
“We need water, agricultural mechanization and many things that can accrue to the state with all standing together,” Shango said.
He warned political jobbers to stay away and desist from sowing seeds of discord as they will stand together and move the state forward.
In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia appreciated the Benue people for their generosity of electing them to steer the ship of the state.
He called for love and unity of purpose among party leaders and supporters to enable them return all the glory of the state that had been lost.
Alia said since he assumed office, tremendous work has been going on in the state including the renovation of the State Assembly complex, on ongoing work on 16 Makurdi township roads making them formidable and enduring, lighting up of streets, among others.
“We are expecting a bumper harvest this season because of the inputs supplied to the farmers this planting season.
“We commissioned Benue State computerized inspection workshop at North Bank, we have relative peace in Benue as we are working with the Navy, Army, Air Force, Civil Defence and others giving us prompt and continuous security intelligence,” the governor said.