It is clear that uneasy silence in Benue’s APC between Governor Alia’s camp and that of Senator George Akume is the beginning of a looming battle of who controls what in 2027 in the state.
By George Onmonya Daniel
The Secretary General to the Federation, former governor of Benue State, former Senator, Mr. George Akume has quietly withdrawn from the politics and drama in Benue State, it may seem. That’s the problem. It is crystal that his withdrawal or calmness is calm before the storm erupts. The tsunami will determine who becomes the governor of Benue State in 2027. However, Governor Alia seems to be preparing for what ever devastation that flood will bring or even stopping the storm before it begins.
The battle now is being fought in court. Who will, in the end, control the Benue State All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman. It all depends on how the case turns out in court. Senator George Akume’s APC Chairman is Austin Agada. He was the party chairman that ushered in the governor. The Vanguard newspaper of October 17, 2021, announced the winner of the APC Chairnan election in Benue as Austin Agada. Mr. Agada was the chairman of the party when Rev. Father Alia, now governor of the state, was endorsed by George Akume’s wife to be the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC). With Akume’s influence and financial support, Rev. Father Alia would emerge the governor of Benue State in 2023.
Trouble started almost immediately. Insiders have it that Senator George Akume wanted certain of his people in certain positions in the government. The governor wouldn’t have it. He had other plans. The plan is to take over the government of Benue State completely from the man who made him, the man they call the godfather of Benue.
When the governor has the power to appoint who he wants to appoint, with Senator Akume in Abuja holding a federal appointment, the governor also has the advantage of muscling and plotting the removal of all George Akume’s people from the state assembly and people his own people, but7 removing the APC Chairman Austin Agada, has proven very difficult and problematic. Austin Agada, with the backing of Senator Akume and stakeholders in the APC who are Senator Akume’s loyalists, have continued to show their displeasure at what they see as Governor Alia, an outsider, coming to hijack the total structure of the party. One Akume support bluntly called it a coup.
The battleground today is who gets the party chairman position. If Austin Agada, who the court says, is the chairman right now wins the appeal against the governor, Governor Alia would have to quickly look for another party as it is clear he may not win the primaries for his disloyalty to Senator George Akume. From the grapevine, it is rumoured that the governor has a plan B. If the APC did not favour him, he would swiftly change to the ADC, the new party making wave in Nigeria. Senator Gabriel Suswan that people say is the main man who gives Governor Alia advice, is a front man of the ADC.
Senator George Akume’s silence portends trouble. That is the only thing he can do now as he strategies on who to make governor in 2027. It is clear Governor Alia has lost that trust from the godfather of Benue politics.
George Akume has not been lucky with the men he made governor since he left the position in 2007. From Gabriel Suswan to Ortom, who spent 8 years each in the office, to Rev. Father Alia, who rebelled immediately.
With George Akume’s partnership with Governor Alia’s predecessor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, it is clear that the chess game for 2027 has begun.
