Benue: Alia Should Pursue Reconciliation With SGF Akume – Aondoakaa

A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), has urged Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to embrace reconciliation with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

Aondoakaa made the call when he was hosted on Arise Television, where he spoke on the lingering political differences in Benue State.

He said there was nothing wrong or disrespectful if Governor Alia approaches Akume to actualise the President’s call for peace within the party in the state.

“The President has directed a conciliatory process by the party regarding the differences between Governor Alia and the SGF. I don’t see anything wrong, nor do I see it as disrespect to the office of the governor, if he approaches Akume in obedience to the President’s directive,” he said.

He dismissed insinuations that such a move would amount to political subordination or “godfatherism,” stressing that reconciliation remains a party matter and not an interference with the governor’s constitutional duties.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding party congresses in the state, Aondoakaa maintained that the decision to adopt affirmation was a national directive of the party and should not be treated differently in Benue.

“We are talking about congresses. The point is clear that there was a decision that there should be affirmation. The party all over the country has done affirmation. So why should the case in Benue be different?” he queried.

According to him, other governors who defected from opposition parties to the ruling party complied with the affirmation process, insisting that Benue should not be singled out.

He said the directive was clear that where existing executives have neither left the party nor passed on, affirmation should be conducted, adding that such action does not in any way diminish the authority of the governor.

“That does not make anybody look down on him. It does not in any way interfere with his duties as governor. Nobody is giving him a job in government. This is purely a party issue,” he stated.

Aondoakaa further argued that responding positively to the President’s reconciliation call would not translate to the SGF lording over the governor.

“If the President said there should be reconciliation, sitting down together to reconcile does not mean somebody is trying to lord it over the governor. It is simply respect for the directive of Mr. President,” he added.

He urged party stakeholders in Benue to allow the reconciliation process to proceed in the overall interest of unity and stability within the party.

End