President Tinubu Appoints George Akume as SGF to Soothe North-Central Zone’s Discontent

…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.

In an effort to address the discontent within the North-central zone and influence the power struggle for leadership in the 10th National Assembly, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen George Akume, a former governor of Benue State, as the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

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This move by Tinubu aims to appease the zone, which felt overlooked in the selection of candidates endorsed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for key positions in the National Assembly.

North-central Zone Overlooked:

The APC had previously backed candidates from other regions for the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly.

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This decision did not sit well with stakeholders from the North-central region, who believed that the zone had been neglected despite its significant support for Tinubu during the last election.

The Race for Leadership Positions:

Senator Sani Musa from Niger State is vying for the position of Deputy Senate President and has garnered the support of Senators-elect from the North-central region.

Meanwhile, the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, is determined to contest for the position of Speaker, remaining resolute in his bid for the number four seat.

Speculation on Akume’s Appointment:

Some party loyalists, speaking confidentially, have suggested that Akume’s appointment as SGF may have been made to pave the way for Hon Tajudeen Abbas from the North-west to become Speaker.

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The North-central Zone’s Demands:

Representatives from the North-central region conveyed to President Tinubu that appointing Akume as the next SGF was not sufficient to placate them.

The North Central People’s Forum (NCPF) asserted that considering the significant number of votes Tinubu received from the zone in the last election, the region should be granted the office of the Deputy Senate President and the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Call for Deputy Senate President and FCT Minister:

The NCPF insisted that while they appreciate the appointment of the SGF, someone from the FCT should be given a ministerial position, preferably as the FCT minister.

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The forum emphasized that individuals from the North Central, including Abuja, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kwara States, possess a deep understanding of the FCT and should be considered for the role.

Conclusion:

While the appointment of George Akume as SGF aimed to address the concerns of the North-central zone, stakeholders from the region continue to demand further representation in key positions.

They advocate for the appointment of a Deputy Senate President from the North Central and a minister from the region to serve as the FCT minister, citing the significant support the APC received in the zone during the previous election.

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