Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Nigerian Concord Newspaper can authoritatively report that the governor of Benue state, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia is sponsoring media attacks through pressure groups against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume over the refusal of the SGF to help the governor in the ongoing election petition between him and the candidate of the PDP, Mr. Titus Uba.
Recall that a group known as the Zone A People’s Assembly, ZAPA yesterday addressed a press conference at the instance of Father Alia to create tension that it’s the SGF that is trying to distabilize his administration in Benue state.
The group alleged that Akume is fighting the governor for not supporting Becky Orpin to emerge as the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly in June.
ZAPA in the press conference urged the Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse to caution the SGF over his plan to bring some sections of the Tiv land down in terms of federal appointments.
The group particularly mentioned how Akume influenced the nomination of a ministerial nominee from his place as against the laid down agreement to spread appointments across all the towns in the Tiv land.
The group also mentioned desperate move by the SGF to make Emmanuel Jime lose his office as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council just because of his loyalty to Governor Alia.
ZAPA also condemned how Akume ostensibly robbed the people of Lobi by out-scheming Dr. Stephen Hwande, and also setting aside merit to deny him of the position of Chief Medical Director (CMD) in favour of his Jemgbagh clansman.
But findings by Nigerian Concord Newspaper showed that ZAPA’s press conference was sponsored by Governor Alia to blackmail the SGF who had refused to help him to manipulate the judges who have been sitting on the petition filed by the Benue PDP and Titus Uba against his emergence as governor of the state.
It was gathered that the governor who sent some APC stakeholders to beg Akume to help him manipulate the Tribunal with his position as the SGF received the shock of his life few days ago when those he sent to the former governor came with a negative news.
However, the governor had met with a former governorship aspirant under the Benue APC, Chief Barnabas Gemade on a way to help him talk to the national chairman of the ruling party, Alhaji Ganduje to help him persuade Akume to talk to the Tribunal judges to rule in his favour in a judgement that has been reserved for ruling.
At the meeting that took place between Alia and Gemade today at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, the governor reportedly confessed his fears to the former PDP national chairman about the overwhelming evidence which the PDP and Titus Uba had presented before the Tribunal especially in the allegation of forgery against his deputy, Dr. Sam Ode.
Alia told Gemade that it’s only an intervention from Akume being the SGF that can make the Tribunal’s judgement favour him and his deputy.
Gemade according to Government House sources however promised Alia that he would meet Ganduje immediately over the Tribunal issue.