By Isreal Adamu, Jos
The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum, has asked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to carry the entire North-Central zone along in appointments made by his office.
The North-Central APC Forum, in a statement issued by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, after a meeting of the Forum in Abuja on Sunday, also called on the SGF to stand as the leader of the party in the North-Central by ensuring that the people of the zone feel the impact of his exalted office.
The APC Forum warned that it will mobilize protests and agitation against the SGF, to demand his removal from the office, if he fails to take urgent steps to correct the imbalance in his appointments, and also address lapses in his approach to leadership, which it said has negatively impacted the fortunes of the APC in the North-Central.
According to the Forum, the position of SGF was zoned to the North-Central in line with the party’s zoning arrangement after the election of President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Akume, a former governor of Benue State who also served as Minister of Special Duties under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was named SGF by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
The North-Central APC Forum accused Akume of engaging in lopsided appointments to statutory positions under the Office of the SGF. It noted that Akume has been appointing mostly his Tiv brothers from Benue State since he assumed the position of SGF.
Zazzaga, in the statement, observed that Akume’s conduct is contrary to what was expected by APC leaders when the position of SGF was given to the North-Central, as he has not carried the zone along.
According to Zazzaga, the North-Central has not benefited from Akume’s position as SGF.
Parts of the statement read, “The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum notes with concern, the failure of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to carry the entire North-Central zone along since his appointment as SGF by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
“Rather than carry the North-Central along, Senator Akume has been favouring his Tiv people of Benue State in the lopsided appointments he has made in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF.
“This is unacceptable and we, the North-Central APC Forum, condemn this attitude and ask the SGF to correct the imbalance in appointments or face protests by the people of the North-Central.
“It is on the record that the position of SGF was given to the North-Central in line with the zoning arrangement within the APC and as such, the current occupant of the Office, Senator George Akume, is the one representing the North-Central in the top echelon of the Federal Government.
“However, and unfortunately, Senator Akume is only appointing people of the Tiv extraction of Benue State to positions within the Office of the SGF.
“We, the North-Central APC Forum, are calling the SGF’s attention to these lopsided appointments, and we are also asking him to balance the appointments and carry the entire people of the North-Central along.
“We are also calling on Senator Akume to take his duties seriously, and concentrate on the responsibilities of the Office of the SGF, instead of engaging in endless fight with the Governor of Benue State, Reverend Hyacinth Alia, which is taking much of his attention.
“We are equally urging Senator Akume to immediately make necessary appointments to fill up vacant positions in the Office of the SGF. We are aware that there are vacant positions of SAs in the Office of the SGF which are yet to be filled.
“We are issuing a timely reminder to Senator Akume to use those outstanding positions to balance the appointments in the Office of the SGF. This will not only correct the imbalance in the spread of appointments in the establishment, but also boost the efficiency of the Office of the SGF by bringing in competent individuals from diverse backgrounds to man key vacant positions within the OSGF.
“Also, besides the call to balance appointments in the Office of the SGF, the North-Central APC Forum is also putting it on the record that the North-Central zone is not benefiting from Senator Akume’s leadership.
“As the SGF, Senator Akume is the leader of the North-Central in both the party, APC, and the Federal Government, but his impact in this exalted position is not being felt by loyal party members, and the entire people of the zone.
“We are calling on the SGF to reconsider his leadership approach to ensure that the zone benefits from the Office.
“The North-Central APC Forum is urging the SGF to address these lapses by carrying the entire North-Central, and the natives of the North, along in his appointments and his approach to leadership.
“We urge Senator Akume to correct these issues immediately, or we will start agitations against him. Senator Akume should stand as the leader of the APC in the North-Central. The people of the North-Central should benefit from the position which was zoned to the region.
“We are asking Senator Akume to unite the party in the North-Central and balance the appointments or face protests. We will call for his removal and we will release evidence of the imbalanced appointments made by the Office of the SGF under Senator Akume.
“The imbalanced appointments made by the SGF is undermining the unity of the APC, especially in the North-Central. This situation can have a negative impact on the fortunes of the APC in future elections.”
