What Nigeria Stands To Gain From Akume As New SGF

BY SAM ADZEGEH

A charismatic, yet simple and approachable disposition define the personality of Nigeria’s latest man of the moment, Senator George Akume Igbegbe Dajoh.

The journey of this humble son of Jemgbagh in Tarka local government in the heartland of Benue State, which is inhabited by the Tiv, famously brave and irrepressible, is the stuff of legends.

George Akume, two-time Governor, three-time Senator, immediate past Minister and recently appointed Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), is a veritable study in what humility, kindness, trust in God and sincerity of purpose in service to humanity can bring.

Even before bursting on Benue and the nation’s political firmament, this genial, soft spoken gentleman had made a name as a kind-hearted, well established quietly efficient and approachable public servant who rose through the ranks to the enviable position of Permanent Secretary in the Benue State civil service. On the social circuits, Senator Akume maintained a wide network of friends, though careful to avoid the notoriety that usually accompanies the klieg lights of Benue’s social (over)indulgences.

His natural geniality, coupled with a generous disposition and sympathetic listening ear attracted young and old of all sexes to him like bees to honey. His kindness to all was well known.

Against this background, it was rather prodigious that, by the time General Ibrahim Babangida and his military colleagues were through with their experimentation with diarchy in Nigeria and were, at last, ready to return the country to civil democracy, Akume loomed large on the horizon as next Governor of the then young Benue State.

Contesting on the platform of the PDP, a party which was then riding high on democratic credentials following the sacrifices of political heavyweights in its fold, the genial Akume had no problem coasting into the Benue Government House on a wave of overwhelming popularity I’m 1999; his fame had long preceded him.

In his first tenure as Governor, Akume lived up to his billing as a benevolent personality. It’s no use attempting a catalogue of the beneficiaries of his large heartedness. He personally positively touched the lives of uncountable thousands across the State with his generosity. Akume built houses for widows who had long given up hope in life; revived long moribund businesses of friends of yesteryears; sponsored countless students on scholarships both home and abroad as well as gave monetary gifts running into millions of naira to the needy. In a state like Benue with its burgeoning impoverished masses, the man’s generosity really went a long way towards positively transforming the society.

Akume’s official performance in government is still rated along with those of late Aper Aku and Rev. Fr. Adasu in terms of infrastructural development and transformation of personal lives. He is credited with having established and developed several satellite settlements around Benue State, Judges’ Quarters (Makurdi) just one among many.

Four years after becoming Governor, Akume’s popularity more than doubled in the State. It was due to him that the name ‘Pure Water’ was ascribed to a particular model of car in the State. His economic policies and developmental activities had enabled several to purchase the vehicles which had taken over Benue roads! By 2003, a grateful Benue populace overwhelmingly endorsed him for a second tenure.

By the end of his second tenure as Governor, Akume’s geniality, mature disposition and brilliant outings had stood him out among his peers at the national level. The eloquence of his speech deliveries, his easy interaction with people of diverse socio-cultural and religious backgrounds attracted political heavyweights at the top echelons to take note of the charismatic young Governor of Benue State. Many sought him out for advice and a deeper, closer relationship.

After the resounding success of a second term as Governor, and in the high wire politics of 2007, the people of Northeast Senatorial zone in Benue State had only one choice as Senatorial candidate, and that was the man most had come to identify as ‘Just George’. Shrugging off any opposition to his Senatorial ambition, his election to the Red Chamber of the national Assembly was a fait acccompli. At the hallowed chambers of the Senate, Akume took his game to a higher level: his principled stance on contentious issues, famous maturity and willingness to listen, soon made him a vital part of members of the hallowed chambers of both houses of that distinguished assembly. He was, not surprisingly, courted by many parties.

At the birth of the APC (following the famous ‘handshake across the Niger’), Akume had been convinced to throw in his lot with the major opposition APC. His leadership of the party in Benue State ensured that it wrested the State from the stranglehold of his former party; he decamped and enthroned Samuel Ortom as Governor under the platform of the APC. Ortom shortly after, however re-decamped to the PDP, claiming irreconcilable differences with the APC leadership.

Although Akume’s effort to return to the Senate for a fourth tenure in 2019 was truncated, more by local political considerations than a lack of capacity, President Buhari had by then recognized his contributions to both the growth of the APC as well as on the floor of the Senate, and what could have been a major political setback for Akume was averted when the then President appointed him to the exalted office of Minister for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs.

In the run-up to the 2023 elections, there was a groundswell of support to enthrone Akume as National Chairman of the APC. The position, which was zoned to the North-central, was hotly contested by several big wigs, including Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Al-Makura, both former governors of Nasarawa State, as well as Barr. Solomon  Lalong, former Plateau State Governor. Akume however, narrowly lost the position to Adamu.

Akume later faced a similar tough competition for the SGF slot, but new President Bola Tinubu, who had been Lagos State Governor, while Akume was Benue Governor, obviously knew the latter’s capacity and appointed him to his present office.

In his new position, Akume carries the political future of not only Tivland or Benue State, but that of the the entire Middle Belt on his shoulders. Having lost its political godfathers – J.S Tarka, Abubakar Saraki, Solomon Lar, Aper Aku, Paul Unongu, to mention a few – the region has, for more than a decade suffered marginalisation in appointments both in the civil and military spheres. As if this was not enough, States in the region (like many others across the country) have for years lately, come under ferocious attacks by bandits of whatever hue and origin, negating peace and socio-economic development in the area.

It is against this background that, beyond the widespread jubilation that greeted his announcement as SGF, many are hopeful that Akume, already known as a man of peace, is expected to use his long nurtured political relationships at all levels, leverage on his new position and commence a diplomatic shuttle to bring much needed peace and development to this beleaguered State, region and the nation.

Back home in Benue State, hopes are equally high that the new SGF, with his overwhelming wealth of experience and exposure, will strike the desired synergy with the new Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to ensure that the State, as well as the entire Middle Belt, maximally reap the benefits of the former’s enduring struggles to return Benue closer to Nigeria’s government at the centre.

If he can do this, the sky may yet be the limit for this scion of the Dajoh dynasty.

Adzegeh, a veteran journalist, wrote this from Makurdi, Benue State.