A civil society organisation, North Central Peace and Unity Forum (NOCPUF), has condemned the calls by some faceless Arewa and Afenifere Organisations in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, for the removal of Senator George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Reacting to statements credited to the said groups, NOCPUF in a press statement released Wednesday described their calls as “not only mischievous, but a further sponsored push by the political enemies of the SGF, to see his downfall and are using the ongoing EFCC investigations into alleged financial crime by one of his aides, as a flagship for their selfish drive to unseat the SGF.”
The Forum stressed that the groups and their sponsors were “jealous of the incorruptible nature of Senator Akume, an attribute that endears him to the president and worthy of his current appointment.”
It faulted the “misguided calls for punitive measures for a principal over his aides’ offences, particularly when investigations are still ongoing, goes to show the desperation of their masters.”
“We totally condemn the false narrative and consider it as the handiwork of desperate adversaries, whose mission, like others before now, has surely failed,” the NOCPUF in the statement signed by Dr. Bem Ugoh and Prince Mark Elayo, the Turakin Keana, its Convener and National Coordinator, respectively,” said.
The Forum noted with satisfaction Senator Akume’s dynamic leadership of the North-central, “which is manifesting positive signs, especially with the establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and his contribution to the development and unity of the nation in general.”
Similarly, the Forum congratulated the Board chairman, members and management of the newly established NCDC) and prayed for their successful tenure of office while pledging its support for the implementation of their mandate.