Twice in two weeks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federal, SGF, Senator George Akume has affirmed that he would no longer seek any elective position.
Senator Akume’s decision was restated on Saturday, in Lafia, during the reception organised in honour of Sen. Solomon Ewuga and others who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nasarawa State.
Credible News recalls that Akume had on December 27, at his 70th birthday celebrations at Wannune, his hometown in Benue State, resolved to bid farewell to elective office, citing old age.
The SGF, who was the Special Guest of Honour at Ewuga’s defection, said he would groom younger politicians to take over and build the nation.
“At my age, I don’t think I will seek any elective office again, my responsibility is to help to mentor the younger ones to take up the challenges in nation building,” he said
Akume said the North Central had a lot of opportunities waiting to be tapped while urging closer cooperation among stakeholders to boost development in the zone.
“I am very proud to be here today in the presence of worthy sons of Nigeria and Nasarawa State. Our country is blessed, we have the human and material resources, which is second to none not just in Africa.
“We have a very talented President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the gifted strategist politician and a stateman who has a knack to identify talents and use such talents.
“0ne of them is national chairman of our great Party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, a great man, fine an extraordinary man who has added value to our party since assumption of office a few months ago” he said.
Akume described Ewuga as a courageous and hardworking man who loves Nasarawa State, noting that his coming to the APC fold would help Nasarawa State to move faster in the area of development.
He said Senator Ewuga’s name will be written in gold if he did exactly what he said he was going to do for Nasarawa State and indeed for North Central Zone.
“Your coming is also timely. Join hands with Gov Sule and other leaders to help develop Nasarawa State, that is what our people need, that’s what they want, we will fail them if we don’t do so.
“You have got former deputy governor, former FCT state Minister, Senator, you told me is time to join hands and develop Nasarawa State, and your people have been pushing for this,” Akume observed.
Chairman of the occasion, Sen. Umaru Al -Makura commended the efforts of the national chairman of APC, Dr AAbdullahi Ganduje for ensuring peace and stability of the party.
He described Senator Akume as a true son of the North Central and applauded his disposition toward establishment of peace in the zone and Nasarawa State in particular.
He also described Ewuga as a seasoned politician, noting that his coming into the fold of APC would add value to the smooth operation of the party in the state.
“Giving the commitment, focus, in-depth knowledge of governance, politics and economy by our President, Bola Tinubu, I’m very sure that APC is going to last beyond our imagination”, he said.
Ewuga, a key stakeholder of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party was received amid a large crowd of supporters at the Lafia City hall along Shendam Road.
He was received with a long list of others from PDP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party, Social Democracy Party and Zenith Labour Party, among others.
Key among those who defected with him are Matthew Ombugaku, 2023 gubernatorial candidate of APGA and immediate-past State House of Assembly member representing Doma North constituency under ZLP.
Ewuga, a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, recently hinted on plans to return to APC during his visit to the Government House, Lafia, alongside his supporters.
“I am coming to the foundation we laid. If you are coming back to the foundation we laid, wouldn’t you desire the building to be completed? I think it’s only proper to do the right thing,” he had stated.
Receiving him back to the fold, the National Chairman of APC described the former deputy governor as a frontline politician and foundation member of the ruling party.
He said the reforms being embarked upon by President Bola Tinubu were for the benefit of the country, adding that the end results would begin to manifest soon.
He said the APC was deepening democracy in the country even as the party had been able to entrench internal democracy in the country, making it a platform to beat.
Governor Abdullahi Sule lauded the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr George Akume and other leaders of the party for the feat achieved so far.
Gov. Sule said that given the pedigree of Sen. Ewuga and his wealth of experience, his return would boost the profile of the party in the state.
