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By Tracy Moses
MAKURDI: President Bola Tinubu has vowed that Benue State will not be allowed to suffer the consequences of the political rift between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, declaring his readiness to intervene to prevent the disagreement from escalating.
The President warned that allowing the rift to fester would have grave consequences not only for Benue State but also for the entire North-Central region and the country at large.
Tinubu made this known at the wedding reception of Aondoakura Akume, son of the SGF, which held in Makurdi on Sunday.
He stressed that he considers it a moral responsibility to intervene and reconcile both leaders in the interest of peace and development.
The President, who was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that the benefits of unity far outweigh the cost of division, urging all parties to focus on what binds them together.
Speaking on behalf of the President, Vice President Shettima described Senator Akume as a political survivor and statesman, referring to him as “the cat with nine lives” and one of the last remaining political titans in Nigeria.
“Distinguished Senator George Akume has remained relevant in Nigeria’s political landscape for over four decades,” Shettima said. “I had a prepared speech, but I chose to speak from the heart.”
He described Benue State as more than the nation’s food basket, calling it a pacesetter with a large and accommodating heart. He also highlighted the political maturity of the Tiv people, noting their decisive role in the 2023 general elections.
“In Benue, the Tiv nation voted for a Nigerian candidate, not a religious or regional candidate,” he said.
Shettima emphasized Akume’s political stature, describing him as a leader not only of Benue but of the entire North-Central region and Nigeria as a whole.
“Benue is too important for us to toy with,” he said, quoting civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.: ‘We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.’
He warned against allowing the misunderstanding between Akume and Governor Alia to escalate, stressing that the people of Benue, the North-Central region, and Nigeria would suffer the consequences.
“We have a duty to step in and heal the wounds. What unites us is far greater than what divides us,” Shettima said.
The Vice President also chronicled Akume’s long public service career, noting that he has served as Director of Protocol, Permanent Secretary, two-term Governor of Benue State, Senator for 12 years, Minority Leader of the Senate, Minister, and now SGF.
“This is why I call him the cat with nine lives,” he said, adding that Akume has played a key role in producing governors in the state.
Shettima assured that efforts would be made to repair the strained relationship between Akume and Governor Alia, describing the governor as transformative and reiterating Akume’s large-heartedness.
“I have a moral obligation, as a leader in the North, to help mend this relationship,” he said, stressing that Akume remains a highly respected leader across Benue’s various zones.
He also thanked the people of Benue for their warm reception and prayed for lasting peace between the two leaders for the progress of the state.
Earlier, Senator Akume said God had enabled him to mentor and support three governors in Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, Samuel Ortom, and Hyacinth Alia, urging the people to continue praying for Governor Alia’s success.
He said the Federal Government was making efforts to address national challenges and appealed to Nigerians to continue praying for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
Akume also expressed gratitude to God for his son, Aondoakura, and prayed for blessings and children for the newly married couple, pledging his continued support.
In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia praised Vice President Shettima for his consistent support for Benue State.
He congratulated the couple on behalf of the state and urged them to live exemplary lives that would contribute to societal growth. Alia prayed that the couple would remain steadfast in faith, assuring them of God’s abundant blessings.
Earlier, elder statesman Senator Jack Tilley-Gyado said God had blessed Akume because of his good heart, describing him as the undisputed leader of the Benue people.
Tilley-Gyado, who said he remains the oldest active politician in the state at 81, thanked Vice President Shettima for his enduring affection and commitment to Benue State.