Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) has said that Nigerian leaders will not allow the relationship between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and “the transformative Governor” of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to fall apart.
It is evident that there is a frosty relationship between Sen. Akume and Fr. Alia, two Benue leaders who entered the 2023 general elections as a united force. Peace initiatives for the two, even at the instance of the President and as first initiated by His Eminence Prof JOI Ayatse, Tor Tiv, are yet to yield fruitful results.
PBAT, speaking through his representative, Sen. Kashim Shetima, Vice President at a wedding in Makurdi, Benue State capital, on Sunday, December 28, said leaders cannot afford to allow the relationship between the two fall apart.
“Benue is too important for us to toil with,” the president said through his representative, Sen Shetima.
“We cannot afford to allow the discord between the elder statesman, Distinguished Senator George Akume, and the governor of Benue State, my brother Reverend Hyacinth Alia, to fester.
“We have that moral obligation to step in and heal the wounds. What binds us together supercedes whatever divides us,” he said.
Turning to Fr. Alia, he said, “We adore you for your transformative leadership.”
Sen Akume asked for prayers for Fr. Alia. After alluding to his magic wand in “installing wonderful people as Governors,” the SGF went on to say how “Leading a people is not a mean achievement; it’s so daunting.”
The SGF, who prayed to God to continue to be with the governor to lead the state, asserted, “From us, we will continue to pray for this administration. The leadership is doing very well.”
Last week, PBAT inaugurated Fr. Alia as a member of the high-powered Committee on Strategy, Conflict Resolution, and Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The committee’s task is to resolve internal disputes and strengthen party cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
