…says Benue too important for political lift
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed for unity and reconciliation between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, warning that prolonged discord between the two leaders could have grave consequences for Benue State, the North-Central region and the nation at large.
Shettima made the call Sunday while speaking at the wedding reception of the son of Senator Akume in Makurdi, where he described Benue as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s unity and progress.
“Benue is not only the heartbeat of the nation; it goes beyond being the food basket. Benue is a trendsetter, and Benue has a large heart,” the Vice President said.
He praised the Tiv nation, describing it as the largest non-Muslim ethnic group in Northern Nigeria, with a presence across Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory, and even parts of Borno State.
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Shettima described them as the most divisive in Nigeria’s contemporary history but commended the people of Benue for prioritising national unity over religious or regional sentiments.
“The Tiv nation decided to vote for the Nigerian candidate, not the religious candidate, not the Northern candidate,” he said, adding that such a choice reflected maturity and patriotism.
The Vice President also showered encomiums on Senator Akume, describing him as a leader whose tone and conduct reflect accommodation and large-heartedness.
“The people call him the leader of Benue. He is a leader of the North-Central and a leader in Nigeria,” Shettima noted.
Warning against political divisions, the Vice President quoted civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., saying, “We either learn to live together with others or perish together.”
He stressed that the rift between Akume and Alia must not be allowed to deepen. “We cannot afford to allow the discord between the elder statesman, Distinguished Senator George Akume, and the Governor of Benue State, my brother, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to fester.
“We have a moral obligation to step in and heal wounds. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us,” he said.
According to him, the consequences of a broken relationship would be far-reaching. “If this relationship goes asunder, it is the people of Benue that will suffer, the people of the North-Central that will suffer, and the people of Nigeria that will suffer,” he warned.
Shettima described Senator Akume as one of Nigeria’s most experienced public servants, recounting his long career in public service. “He has paid his dues. He is the longest-serving public servant in the contemporary history of this country,” he said.
Listing Akume’s credentials, the Vice President noted that the SGF had served as Director of Protocol, Permanent Secretary, two-term Governor of Benue State, Senator for 12 years, Minority Leader of the Senate for eight years, Minister, and now Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“This is why I used to call him a cat with nine lives,” Shettima remarked humorously, while acknowledging Akume’s enduring influence in Nigerian politics.
He, however, insisted that despite political differences in the past, efforts must be made to preserve harmony between Akume and Governor Alia. “We will not allow the relationship between him and the transformative governor to go asunder,” Shettima said, pledging to personally work towards repairing the relationship.
“I have that moral obligation as a leader of the North to work on that relationship, to repair the damaged relationship, because he has a big heart. He is our leader, and we hold him in the highest esteem,” he added.
The post VP Shettima calls for reconciliation between Akume, Gov Alia appeared first on Vanguard News.
