President Bola Tinubu has promised to resolve the political feud between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.
Tinubu made the promise on Sunday in Makurdi at the wedding reception of Deborah and Samuel Akume, son of the SGF.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Akume had paid his dues and that there was no need for discord between him and the governor.
He described the SGF as the longest-serving public servant in Nigeria’s contemporary history.
Tinubu added that he had a moral obligation to intervene because what affects Benue also affects the entire North-Central zone and Nigeria as a whole.
The president said Akume, as a leader in the North-Central and Nigeria, had shown leadership, accommodation and a great deal of kindness.
“Benue is too important for us to toy with. We cannot afford to allow the discord between the elder statesman, Sen. Akume, and Governor Alia to escalate.
“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. If this relationship goes asunder, it is the people of Benue, North-Central and Nigeria that will suffer.
“Senator Akume has paid his dues. He is the longest-serving public servant in the contemporary history of this country.
“He was director of protocol, permanent secretary, two-time governor, three-time senator and minority leader of the Senate, minister and now SGF.
“This is why I used to call him a cat with nine lives. He installs a governor and dethrones and puts another. He fell out with that one; he dethroned him and installed another one,” he said.
He emphasised that he would not allow the relationship between Akume and the “transformative governor” to go asunder.
According to him, he has a moral obligation as a leader to fix the damage.
He commended the people of the state for voting massively for him in the 2023 presidential election instead of a northern or religious candidate.
“The 2023 election was the most divisive election ever in the history of our country. But Benue decided to go with the Nigerian candidate, not a religious or northern candidate,” he said.
Earlier, in his remarks, the father of the groom, Senator Akume, thanked the president for honouring his family during their moment of celebration.
Akume also commended Gov. Alia for finding time out of his tight schedule to honour the invitation to witness the wedding of his son.
He assured the couple of his continued support and prayers.
Governor Alia, in his remarks, congratulated the new couple and commended them for bringing joy and respect to their respective families, the state and the nation at large.
Senator Jack Gyado, in his speech, said God had blessed Akume with a good heart, a great family and strong leadership qualities.
The Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, congratulated the couple and prayed for them.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that serving and former ministers, senators, heads of government agencies and others attended the celebration.
NAN also reports that the immediate past governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, and traditional rulers were also in attendance.
(NAN)
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