Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Rt. Hon. Regina Akume, the lawmaker representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency and wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation yesterday blasted the governor of Benue state, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia for drawing a battle line with her husband.
This is just as Akume’s wife showered praises on the former governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom PhD for courage he summoned to attend the swearing-in ceremony and reception of the Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev in Abuja.
The House of Representatives member who represented her husband, Senator George Akume at the reception which held immediately after the swearing-in ceremony faulted Alia for being absent at the important occasion for a reason which the public believes was as a result of President Bola Tinubu’s rejection of his own ministerial nominee, Barrister Emmanuel Jime.
Recall that Alia had sent Jime’s name to Abuja as the ministerial nominee from Benue state while Senator George Akume in his capacity as the leader of the All Progressive Congress in the state sent the name of Professor Joseph Utsev.
President Bola Tinubu however accepted the nominee of Senator George Akume and sent his name among others to security agencies as well as the Senate for screening.
This development raised Alia’s anger, making him to promise a total political war with the SGF.
Speaking at the reception yesterday, Regina Akume who said she was speaking on behalf of her husband, Senator George Akume condemned the governor’s absence, noting that the absence wasn’t a good thing for Benue state especially now that efforts are being made to reconcile all the aggrieved stakeholders in the state.
She noted that Alia couldn’t even send a representative, an action she said had portrayed the governor as someone that doesn’t want reconciliation at all.
“Our own governor is not here; no representative but that’s what we have got. So, we said thank you to God for that too. Great party men came from all over. I salute your courage. I thank you for standing by His Excellency, my husband.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Akume acknowledged the presence of Chief Samuel Ortom at the event,adding that his presence indicates that he wants peace and genuine reconciliation in Benue state.
She prayed to God to give Utseve the wisdom, knowledge and understanding in his office so that he will never forget Benue, and project as well as protect the interest of all sections of the state.
In his remarks, Chief Ortom congratulated the minister who served in his administration as commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, saying he was a round peg in a round hole.
“I am here to congratulate the honourable minister, Prof Utsev, on his appointment and swearing-in today. We give glory to God for this elevation and promotion of our dear brother.
“The Bible says ‘rejoice with them that rejoice’. So, we are here today to rejoice with him and to pray God Almighty to grant him more wisdom and appreciate God for the appointment, and appreciate our leader, Sen George Akume, for facilitating this elevation and promoting him to where he is. We are grateful and we pray to God to grant him more wisdom.
“He (Utsev) has prepared himself academically. He is fit and I pray God to grant all he has done because he is the right peg in the hole, and I believe at the end he will make all of us proud,” Ortom said.