Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, and Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to embrace peace and reconciliation, cautioning that a sustained rift between both leaders could negatively affect Benue State, the North-Central zone and Nigeria as a whole.
Shettima made the appeal on Sunday in Makurdi while addressing guests at the wedding reception of Senator Akume’s son, where he underscored Benue’s strategic importance to national cohesion and development.
“Benue is not only the heartbeat of the nation; it goes beyond being the food basket. Benue is a trendsetter, and Benue has a large heart,” the Vice President said.
He lauded the Tiv people, describing them as the largest non-Muslim ethnic group in Northern Nigeria, with populations spread across Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory and parts of Borno State.
Recalling the 2023 general elections, Shettima said the polls were among the most polarising in Nigeria’s recent history but praised Benue voters for rising above divisions and choosing national interest over ethnic or religious considerations.
“The Tiv nation decided to vote for the Nigerian candidate, not the religious candidate, not the Northern candidate,” he said, noting that the decision demonstrated political maturity and patriotism.
The Vice President also commended Senator Akume for his inclusive leadership style, describing him as a unifying figure within Benue, the North-Central region and the country at large.
“The people call him the leader of Benue. He is a leader of the North-Central and a leader in Nigeria,” Shettima stated.
He warned against the dangers of political disunity, quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.: “We either learn to live together with others or perish together.”
Shettima stressed that the disagreement between Akume and Governor Alia should not be allowed to escalate. “We cannot afford to allow the discord between the elder statesman, Distinguished Senator George Akume, and the Governor of Benue State, my brother, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to fester.
“We have a moral obligation to step in and heal wounds. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us,” he said.
According to the Vice President, the fallout from a breakdown in their relationship would be severe. “If this relationship goes asunder, it is the people of Benue that will suffer, the people of the North-Central that will suffer, and the people of Nigeria that will suffer,” he warned.
Describing Akume as one of the most seasoned public officials in the country, Shettima highlighted his extensive career in public service. “He has paid his dues. He is the longest-serving public servant in the contemporary history of this country,” he said.
He listed Akume’s past roles, including Director of Protocol, Permanent Secretary, two-term governor of Benue State, senator for 12 years, Senate Minority Leader for eight years, minister, and now SGF.
“This is why I used to call him a cat with nine lives,” Shettima said jokingly, while acknowledging Akume’s lasting relevance in Nigerian politics.
Despite past political differences, the Vice President insisted that unity must prevail. “We will not allow the relationship between him and the transformative governor to go asunder,” he said, assuring that he would personally intervene to mend the relationship.
“I have that moral obligation as a leader of the North to work on that relationship, to repair the damaged relationship, because he has a big heart. He is our leader, and we hold him in the highest esteem,” Shettima added.
