North-Central APC Forum Urges Tinubu to Monitor Akume’s Alliance with Ortom

President Bola Tinubu has been requested by the North-Central All Progressives Congress, or APC, Forum, to “watch” Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, or SGF, for allegedly conspiring with opposition politicians to undermine the APC in the North-Central region.

The appeal was made by the North-Central APC Forum in a statement issued on Monday by Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum’s chairman.

The request came as reports surfaced that Akume and Samuel Ortom, the immediate past governor of Benue State, were forming a new coalition against the current governor, Reverend Hyacinth Alia.
While Alia’s government is proving Ortom’s administration wrong, Akume and Alia have been fighting over who controls the party in Benue.

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Nonetheless, there are signs that the two former governors of Benue have banded together to oppose Alia.

During his time as governor, Ortom defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was one of the dignitaries at a Thanksgiving celebration honoring the SGF that took place over the weekend in Benue State’s Konshisha Local Government Area.

Additionally, the celebration was planned to commemorate the 50th birthday of Dr. Matthias Byuan, an Executive Director of the Federal Housing Authority, or FHA, who is one of Akume’s most ardent supporters.

In a statement, Sir Tersoo Kula, Alia’s chief press secretary, criticized Ortom’s attendance at the function and charged him with lacking leadership skills while serving as governor from 2015 to 2023.

Through Terver Akase, his spokesperson, Ortom made the following accusations:

the Alia administration for obtaining increased federal funding without meeting citizens’ expectations in tackling issues related to development and security.

The North-Central APC Forum responded to the development by expressing alarm that the SGF is mingling with former governor Ortom, a prominent figure in Benue State’s opposition.

The North-Central APC Forum expressed alarm at the SGF’s alliance with opposition figures to oppose the APC government in Benue in a statement signed by Zazzaga, who is a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 election.

The Forum said that the collaboration between Akume and Ortom against Alia could destabilize the APC in the North-Central, and urged Tinubu to pay attention to the SGF.

The alliance and gang up on Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chief Samuel Ortom, the immediate previous governor, has alarmed the North-Central APC Forum.

Benue State opposition leader Chief Ortom, whose administration is still being investigated by the APC government led by Governor Alia, has teamed up with SGF Senator Akume to oppose the APC government in Benue State.

This unholy union was on display over the weekend at the Thanksgiving ceremony held in Benue State’s Konshisha Local Government Area in honor of SGF Senator Akume.

“Any APC stakeholder should be concerned about Chief Ortom’s prominent role at the event, and the attacks he launched at Governor Alia afterward make it clear that the SGF, Senator Akume, has joined forces with him to fight the APC governor in Benue State.”

“President Bola Tinubu is being asked to watch the SGF by the North-Central APC Forum because his alliance with opposition leaders like Chief Ortom has the potential to destabilize the APC not only in Benue but throughout North-Central,” the organization stated.

The North-Central APC Forum went on to say that it no longer believes the SGF can effectively lead the APC in the region.

The Forum said that the SGF’s alliance with Ortom demonstrates that he does not have the APC’s best interests at heart and is only interested in maintaining control over Benue State’s resources and loyalty to himself. The Forum had previously accused the SGF of making unfair appointments in favor of his Tiv kinsmen and urged him to lead the entire North-Central.

Because of Senator Akume’s unholy relationship with Chief Ortom, which demonstrates his lack of concern for Benue State’s and the North-Central zone’s development, the North-Central APC Forum has lost faith in the SGF.

Senator Akume would not form an alliance with Ortom, whose previous acts have demonstrated scant respect for the welfare and dignity of the people, if he genuinely cared about Benue and the North-Central.

We are concerned that the SGF, who ought to be in charge of the APC in North-Central, will join forces with shady opposition groups to oppose an APC government that is making a concerted effort to address the problems in Benue State.

The collaboration between Chief Ortom and Senator Akume is not about development; rather, it is about Akume’s ambition to dominate Benue State’s resources and governance. The entire gang up is condemned by the North-Central APC Forum,” it continued.

The APC Forum was shocked that Akume could join forces with Ortom, who boasted of having retired the SGF from politics while he was governor.

The APC Forum questioned why the SGF, as the head of the ruling party, should work with the PDP leader to topple an APC administration, pointing out that Ortom’s eight years as governor had regressed Benue State’s infrastructure and human capital.

The Forum urged President Tinubu to summon the SGF to order right away, warning that Akume’s relationship with Ortom was not in the APC’s best interests.

Regarding the partnership between Senator Akume and Chief Ortom against the APC administration in Benue State, which is headed by Governor Hyacinth Alia, we implore President Tinubu and the APC’s national leadership to act immediately.

We must move right away because, as we remember, Chief Ortom only recently, in October 2024, promised that the PDP will take back control of Benue in 2027.

“The APC cannot afford to lose Benue State in 2027,” the North-Central APC Forum reiterates.

It issued a warning, saying, “We urge President Tinubu and other leaders of our great party to take swift action to prevent the APC in the North-Central from becoming unstable.”