The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who was governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume, has said that at over 70 years of age, he has come to a stage in which he would no longer seek any elective office again.
Senator Akume stated this in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at a reception organised in honour of Senator Solomon Ewuga and others who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said he would instead groom younger politicians to take over and build the nation.
Akume, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, said that at his age, he does not think he would seek any elective office again.
According to him; “My responsibility is to help to mentor the younger ones to take up the challenges in nation building. The North Central has a lot of opportunities waiting to be tapped. When we join hands together, the sky will be the limit of the zone.
“We have a very talented President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the gifted strategist politician and a statesman who has 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 and extraordinary man who has added value to our party since assumption of office a few months ago,” he said.
Akume described Senator Ewuga as a courageous and hardworking man who loves Nasarawa state, adding that his coming into the APC fold would help Nasarawa state to move faster in the area of development.
In the words of Akume; “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.
“You coming is also timely. Join hands with Governor 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.
“I am happy you didn’t disappoint them, don’t disappoint any us because we have confidence in you. When we discussed your planned return to the APC with Sule which you are also a co-founder, we were elated,” Akume said.
Ewuga, a key stakeholder of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 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 (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Social Democracy Party (SDP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) 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 among others.
Speaking in turn, Governor Sule, lauded the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr George Akume and other leaders of the party for the feat achieved so far, adding that given the pedigree of Senator Ewuga and his wealth of experience, his return would boost the profile of the party in the state.
