Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Conference of Harmonized Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria (COHSCIN) has blasted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume for nursing an ambition to be president of Nigeria in 2027.
The group which made this condemnation in a press statement signed by its chairman, Ibrahim Abah said that a press conference which was jointly held by sixteen political parties in Makurdi yesterday to unanimously endorse Senator Akume as the leader of the APC in the North Central was an indication of the SGF’s plot to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Recall that there were reports that the Governor of Benue state, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia reportedly parted ways with Akume when he (Akume) ordered that the state government should be paying him a sum of N2billion monthly. His wife, a member of the House of Representatives, Regina Akume too was to be getting N200m from the state government if Governor Alia had agreed to the proposal from Akume.
According to the reports, the SGF was planning to gather enough funds to be able to fund his presidential ambition against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
According to the group, bringing sixteen political parties together to endorse him through a press conference yesterday was an indication that Senator Akume had betrayed Bola Tinubu.
The group said in the statement: “Our observation is based on the open media campaigns by various political groups clamoring for Senator George Akume to run for presidency in 2027 against President Tinubu” These calls are led by SGF formidable loyalists.
“We recognize the right of Senator George Akume as an experienced politician to aspire for the office of president given that he sees the president as his colleague instead of a boss. But as a pan- Nigerian movement, we will advise him to resign from office and concentrate on his presidential ambition.
“The group described such moves as a blatant betrayal typical of Nigeria’s political class and their selfishness. The media is already awash with various political groups actively promoting Senator George Akume for the presidency ahead of 2027. Prominent of such groups included Akperashi Vanguard, a political movement led by a business man, Chief John Akperashi, a known loyalist of the SGF”
Furthermore, the group made reference to the purported mobilization of opposition parties in the state to rally support in pursuit of Akume’s presidential ambition. “This brazen call was coordinated by another of Akume’s apologist in the person of comrade Austin Agada, the former State chairman whose suspension is yet to be lifted by his own ward party leadership.
“Mr President must be guided to understand that credible information information at our disposal shows that the Executive Secretary of Shippers Council, Barr. Pius Akutah has been directed to release huge sums of money for such activities. Among other sponsors of Akume for presidency campaign are the Director, finance and account,Federal housing authority, Mr Mathias Byuan. Mr President must act before it’s too late.