The Benue State All Progressives Congress, APC, has said the recent call for the sack of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume by Governor Hyacinth Alia is a distraction.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Publicity Secretary of the Party, Daniel Ihomum.

He described as self-indicting the ” rebuttal” from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Tersoo Kula distancing Gov.Alia from the mischievous and evil calls for the sack of Sen. Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The statement read: “Much as the publication is riddled with contradictions and lies and only gullible minds would accept such a poorly constructed tale and not spot clearly the hand of Jacob and the voice of Esau in such a piece. It is important to disabuse the minds of the public and, in the process, also unwrap the man behind the mask.

“In the publication, the CPS Tersoo Kula claimed that Governor Alia recommended Sen Dr George Akume to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to be appointed SGF. This is far from the truth, Sen Akume and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu share a very long relationship and have been political allies for decades ( even before the ACN days), his emergence as SGF can be attributed to the trust Mr president has in Sen Akume, his impressive political profile, the zoning of the position to the North Central region, and the dynamics of party politics. Therefore, it is misleading to suggest Gov. Alia played any role whatsoever in President Tinubu’s appointment of Sen Dr George Akume as SGF.

“Kulas also tried without success to absolve Gov. Alia of culpability in the recent call for the removal of Sen Akume as SGF by his appointees, calling them ‘ adults who are entitled to express their opinions autonomously ‘ yet a commissioner took a decision ‘without’ consulting the Governor and was called a “SABOTEUR” and suspended indefinitely (2 weeks). In the same vein, other appointees took another decision ‘Without’ consulting Gov. Alia but the CPS is trying to make the people understand that these ones are adults and entitled to their own opinions. Is Kula saying all appointees are adults but some are more adults than others?

“If the Governor’s liaison Officers (GLOs) were not carrying out Alia’s bidding, why were they received by Hon. Paul Biam, the Chief of Staff to the Governor at the Government House, who while addressing them conveyed his principal’s support and treated them to a banquet after their mischievous outing calling for Sen. Akume to be replaced? And why have they not been sanctioned by the Gov Alia?

“The CPS has also cloth Gov Alia in borrowed ropes with his claim that ” If Governor Alia wants to call for Akume’s sacks, he certainly knows exactly what to do and where to channel his request” is delusional, this is because the powers to hire and fire a federal government appointee of Akume’s standing is vested in the hands of our loving President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR who by all standards is not only happy but trust and believes in the capacity and abilities of Sen Dr George Akume CON who is serving him and our great country Nigeria with distinction.”

Mr.Ihomum said,” The All Progressives Congress in Benue State calls on Governor Hyacinth Alia to find ways of reconciling and uniting the party in the State and to shun Cheerleaders within and outside his government who are bent on denying the party a united front of developing Benue State by distracting him with an imaginary war, which has kept him punching in the dark, instead of focusing on delivering on his mandate and keeping campaign promises made to the people.”

He said the party believes that Gov. Alia, working hand in hand with Sen Dr. George Akume, the Leader of APC Benue State, will bring forth democratic dividends to our people.

“There is no need to continuously insist on planting distractions for the SGF using state government apparatus.

This is our time to flourish, Benue has never gotten better. “