Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has disclosed how the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume helped him secure re-election in 2015 as governor of the state after surviving an impeachment threat.
Al-Makura stated this Saturday in Lafia during the official decamping ceremony of Senator Solomon Ewuga, a former deputy governor of the state and FCT minister from the PDP to the APC.
Senator Al-Makura who described the SGF as a true son of the North Central, said, “Akume played a key role in the formation of the APC, and shortly after I was threatened by an impeachment, the election came. It took the assistance, support, and commitment of Senator Akume who came together with friends like Senator Tilley Gyado to go around the state in 2015 to ensure they gave me the moral support, especially the Tiv nationalities in the state, to ensure I was re-elected,” he said.
The former Nasarawa governor said Senator George Akume who was governor of Benue State between 1999 and 2007, ensured peace and stability between Benue and Nasarawa, adding that he worked very closely with the then Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Adamu.
Al-Makura explained further that the coming into APC of Senator Solomon Ewuga who is a seasoned politician, will add value to the smooth operation of the party in Nasarawa State.
He said that his political path and that of Ewuga first crossed during the Second Republic in 1979. “I was the youth leader of the NPN in Plateau, and he was the assistant secretary of the party in the state. When I came in 2011 to ensure that CPC won in Nasarawa State, Ewuga was beside me. He moved together with me to ensure the success of the CPC in Nasarawa State.”
Meanwhile, the SGF, Senator George Akume, has said that he has no enemies, even among those who wish him dead.
Senator Akume also said that his uncommon forgiveness to people he usually helped, including those that paid him back with betrayal, has lifted him to where he is today.
Akume made the disclosure Saturday when the Mbatiav Community of Gboko Local Government Area (LGA), of the state paid him a solidarity visit in his Makurdi residence.
He stressed that, though some politicians do wish him dead, he cannot wish anybody dead, regardless of any circumstances. “That is why I forgive easily, and God does forgive my inadequacies as well,” Akume said.
He further disclosed that the people of Mbatiav had been very supportive to him since he launched himself into the political space.
He encouraged them to continue to pray for President Ahmed Tinubu to enable him to succeed in transforming the country, reducing poverty, and thereby putting smiles on the faces of the people.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, prayed to God to give him (Akume) good health to discharge his duties as the SGF creditably.
Dajoh also prayed to God to keep elevating the SGF politically.
The traditional ruler, Mue Ter Gbemacha, Chief Ijiir Tarzoho, commended President Tinubu for appointing Akume as the SGF, describing his appointment as a round peg in the round hole.
Tarzoho also appreciated Akume for his good works, particularly for facilitating the appointment of his subjects into various positions, such as the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Utsev, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal Medical Centre, Prof. Joseph Kortor and the Speaker of Benue Assembly, Dajo.
He, however, demanded more appointments and support for his subjects.
The Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboko Local Government Area, Hon. Basil Yina, assured that there would be no other opposition party in Gboko come 2027 owing to the pragmatic leadership of the SG.