Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has urged stakeholders in Benue State to settle their differences and allow peace to reign for the betterment of the lives of the citizens of the State.
He made the call in Abuja, during the opening of the summit of Renewed Hope ambassadors, put together by the governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
VP Shettima specifically urged the Secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume and the State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, to bury the hatched in the interest of State.
“One can hardly get a forum better than this so I want to use this forum to make a special appeal to His Excellency Senator George Akuma and His Excellency Senator Hyacinth Alia to mend fences and work as a team.
“Senator Akume is the longest serving public servant in our current dispensation. He is in his 70s, he was a Governor for eight years, he was a Senator for 16 years, a Minister for four years and now the secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“You have seen it all, you are an elder statesman. Reach out to our junior brother (referring to Akuma), let us build Benue together; Benue deserves peace and Benue deserves development,” he appealed.
Relationship between the Governor and the Secretary to government of the federation turned sour shortly after Governor Alia assumed leadership of the State in 2023.
The misunderstanding has brought about two major factions in the State’s political arena with some loyal to the Governor and some loyal to the secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume, who is a former Governor of the State.