Ensure Inclusiveness In North Central, APC Group Tells Akume

The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum, has asked the secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume, to carry the entire North-Central zone along in appointments made by his office.

The forum, in a statement by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, after it’s a meeting in Abuja, on Sunday, also called on the SGF to stand as the leader of the party in the North-Central by ensuring that the people of the zone feel the impact of his exalted office.

The forum warned that it will mobilise protests and agitation against the SGF, to demand his removal from the office, if he fails to take urgent steps to correct the imbalance in his appointments, and also address lapses in his approach to leadership, which it said has negatively impacted the fortunes of the APC in the North-Central.

According to the forum, the position of SGF was zoned to the North-Central in line with the party’s zoning arrangement after the election of President Bola Tinubu in 2023.

Akume, a former governor of Benue State who also served as minister of Special Duties under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was named SGF by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.

The group accused Akume of engaging in lopsided appointments to statutory positions under the Office of the SGF. It noted that Akume has been appointing mostly his Tiv brothers from Benue State since he assumed the position of SGF.

Zazzaga observed that Akume’s conduct is contrary to what was expected by APC leaders when the position of SGF was given to the North-Central, as he has not carried the zone along.

According to Zazzaga, the North-Central has not benefited from Akume’s position as SGF.

Parts of the statement after the meeting said, “The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum notes with concern, the failure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to carry the entire North-Central zone along since his appointment as SGF by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.

“Rather than carry the North-Central along, Senator Akume has been favouring his Tiv people of Benue State in the lopsided appointments he has made in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF.

“This is unacceptable and we, the North-Central APC Forum, condemn this attitude and ask the SGF to correct the imbalance in appointments or face protests by the people of the North-Central.”