Akume, a Minister has done nothing for 1.5 million Benue IDPs – group says

By Kingsley Chukwuka

A Group in Benue State has accused Sen. George Akume for abandoning the over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Benue State, despite being a Minister of the Federal Republic under the ruling party of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The Group under the umbrella body of “Benue Youth Forum”, said Akume who is the current Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, has never raised a single memo at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in support of his people whom were displaced as a result of attacks suffered from the Fulani herdsmen.

Mr. Terrance Kuanum, Leader of the Group, stated this in a statement on Friday, said Akume who has also not solicited a way to rebuild destroyed communities in Benue is busy parading himself at the presidential villa only strategizing on how to attack Governor Samuel Ortom just to please his pay masters who are out to kill his people and grab their land.

“We have watched with shock the unfolding events since the patriotic appearance of Governor Samuel Ortom on Channels TV.

“While every other Nigerian was applauding Governor Ortom for such a courageous and patriotic act, Sen. George Akume and his APC group in Benue have embarked on all manner of antics to align with the failed Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to cause us more pain and ridicule us before the rest of the world.

“It is equally sad that at a time when the entire country is heading towards the ranching revolution that has come to stay in Nigeria, a son of Benue who represents the State in the Federal Executive Council as a minister is busy calling for the continuation of open grazing and laying claim to grazing routes in Benue in order to satisfy his own selfish interest and please his sponsors.

“Rather than offer the State an effective representation in the elite club of Ministers, Akume has opted to willfully and capriciously sow the seeds of discord, disaffection and ill-will between the President and Governor Samuel Ortom in order to curry favour with the President and by so doing, brighten his chances of occupying the office of National Chairman of the APC”.

Kuanum said Akume has accused Ortom of insulted President Buhari, saying did Akume not rain insult on former president Obasanjo in 2003 when he was the then Governor of Benue State?

“The Benue youths are solidly behind Ortom and will stand behind him firmly and tall to defend our people. We pledge our unalloyed support to the Governor and his administration.

“We commend the efforts of security forces so far and we urge them to step up surveillance to protect Benue communities against killer herdsmen to enable our people who are living in IDP camps for over three years return to their ancestral homes safely.”