Tiv Youth Organisation (TYO) has condemned the call by the Coalition of Idoma Professionals for the sack of Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
President General TYO, Comrade Andy Aondongu Anzah, who condemned the call at a press briefing in Abuja, said the organisatiom wanted to correct a false impression created by a self serving group to bring animosity between the Tiv people and the Idoma people of Benue state.
Anzah noted that the professionals in a “baseless and malicious outburst” claimed that it was speaking on behalf of the Idoma nation to kick against the appoimtment of the SGF and the ministerial nominee, Prof. Joseph Utsev, by President Bola Tinubu.
The organisation also noted with dismay that the call was coated with divisive tendencies, ethnic chauvinism and it is an attempt to breed bad blood among the indigenes of the state.
He said, “While TYO is not against anyone or group crying foul for perceived marginalisation or injustice of any magnitude, we condemn any such disparagement on the SGF.
“To begin with, Governor Hyacinth Alia emerged as Benue state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) through the process of the party’s primary election. At the polls, he won by majority of votes cast, including those cast in all the Idoma speaking areas of Benue State. It can never be the fault of Sen. Akume that Alia is Governor of Benue state.
“The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly was voted in by his own people to represent them at the 10th Assembly of Benue State House of Assembly. He wasn’t appointed Speaker by Sen. Akume. The Speaker was elected at the planery by serving members of the Assembly amongst who were Idoma representatives. Why Sen. Akume would be censured for this is beyond the realms of our imagination, except it is aimed at creating acrimony.”
The group further noted that, “The Chief of Staff to the Governor is the governor’s personal appointment and so his appointment cannot be any fault of Sen. Akume.
“The Chief Judge at any level emerges by seniority in the profession as prescribed by their ethics and guidelines. The current Chief Judge of Benue State attained that height on merit, long before Sen. Akume became SGF.”
Anzah further noted that the SGF is an appointment of the President hence Sen. Akume did not appoint himself, stating, “He was appointed by President Bola Tinubu. So, if the group feels that an Idoma man should have been appointed SGF then they should shend the President, and not Sen. Akume.”
Similarly, they noted that, “The nomination of Prof. Joseph Utsev as Minister should also never be blamed on Sen. Akume. The nomination of ministers of the federal republic is a duty of the President, and not that of the SGF. We leant reliably that the nomination of ministerial candidates was conducted and forwarded by the leadership of the state chapters of All Progressives Congress (APC) as was directed by the President.
“In Benue state, the Chairman of APC, Hon. Austin Agada, is an Idoma man! The group should either have directed their frustration at President Tinubu or their son, Hon. Agada for supervising and forwarding the ministerial nominee from Benue, who is a Tiv man.
“Tiv Youth Organisation wishes to state emphatically that the call for the sack of Sen. Akume by Idoma nation is a clear expression of absolute disdain and hatred on the person and personality of Akume and on the Tiv nation. We roundly condemn this naked show of hatred.
“Sen. Akume is a very kind man who has demonstrated great love and affection for our Idoma brothers. He is a great leader with a big heart that accommodates all and sundry. It is sickening learning that the same people he has previously helped to power in one way or the other are now calling for his head.”
According to the youth group, “As Governor of Benue state, Sen. Akume backed Audu Ogbeh, an Idoma man against his own brother Sen. Banabas Gemade, to become the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Akume also supported supported Dr. Oyegayi as Managing Director of Federal Medical Centre Makurdi against his own brother.
“When an Idoma son, Mr. Daniel Onjeh, former NANS President was rusticated from the University, it was Akume who helped him to get back on his feet by sponsoring him in a foreign University.
“This is how Sen. Akume has demonstrated the spirit of oneness and brotherhood to his Idoma neighbours over time. He did all this, not for mere political gain but to cement the relationship between the Tivs and the Idomas. Rather than being thankful to Akume, the so called coalition of Idoma professionals who are on a self serving mission are rather attacking and calling for Akume’s head.
“One would expect a group such as the Coalition of Idoma Professionals” to honourably channel their energies on innovations in their noble professions rather than delve into matters that will breed acrimony between ethnicities. Such an act is capable of breaking every form of trust ever built between the Tiv and Idoma. “It is therefore, unfortunate, to say the least that such negativity emanates from a group that would rather be solving problems and not creating them.”
The organisation’s president further stated, “On this note, we put it to the Coalition of Idoma Professionals explicitly that such affront is a direct attack on the person and office of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We equally encourage them to operate with decorum in matters of this magnitude rather than resort to instigating chaos by sowing seeds of discord.”
