Ex-Lawmakers Deplore Benue APC Crisis, Celebrate Akume’s Appointment

Forum of Concerned Former Members of the Benue State House of Assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Senator George Akume as the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), describing it as first of its kind in the whole of the North Central zone.

The forum made its views known during a press conference in Makurdi, the Benue State capital through their leader, former speaker of the 6th and 7th Assembly, Dave Iorhemba. It said the people of the North Central and Benue State will not take the appointment of the SGF for granted.

The forum however expressed dismay over the leadership crisis rocking APC in the state and called on the state government to rebuild its relationship with her representatives at the centre to attract more democracy dividends.

“It is worthy to note that it is only when there is a synergy between the governor and the state’s representative at the central government that greater dividends would be attracted to the state and we urge a restoration of peace between aggrieved persons,” the group said.

It called on the government to strategize on ways of restoring peace in the party rather than resorting to create a parallel secretariat, with another executives and planning to  constitute the party executives at the ward level, adding that such actions are capable of destroying the party, which they have built over the time and would not be allowed.

 “We, as past representatives of various state constituencies in Benue State House of Assembly have observed the unfolding events in the State with deep concern, and resolve to lend our voice in the hope that our counsel may sharpen the policy of the state and birth a synergy between the Government of Benue State and her representatives at the federal level that would advance a greater good for the people of the State which can only be achievable in an atmosphere of peace”

While commending the governor for keeping to his campaign promises of paying salary, pensions and gratuity of civil servants as at when due, the forum also called on the governor to employ coercive implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law to check the menace of herdsmen attacks on farmers as the farming season sets in.

The forum also applauded the governor’s zeal of infrastructural development of the state which they said had been neglected for a long time saying, “ however we noted a misplacement of priorities in the choice of the construction of underpass at high level roundabout in Makurdi and Gyado junction in Gboko, when the road and streets feeding the underpass are impassable.”