The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, on Saturday warned Benue State youth to stand firm against attempts by politicians to engage their services as thugs in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
SFG Akume stated this during the 2025 Tiv Day celebration held in Gboko.
The SGF was earlier nominated by the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC), a key governing body of the Tiv people of Benue State, for the chieftaincy title of ‘Taghertagher-Wan u Tiv’.
Our correspondent gathered that the nomination of SGF Akume, Senatate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas; and others were deferred to anorher date.
NewsQuest reports that the conferment ceremony, which includes titles for individuals not of Tiv descent, had generated some discussion and mixed reactions among the Tiv populace regarding the traditional council’s involvement in politics and the criteria for receiving such honors.
Speaking at the event, Senator Akume who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event said, “Anybody who is making noise here is not a Tiv man, he is sponsored to be stupid. When local governments’ money is given to them, they make a lot of noise.
“I want to understand that anyone who wants a second term must learn from Ortom. Don’t be recruited as thugs Nobody can cheat us.
“Even J.S Tarka, who fought for the creation of States never sang No Tarka No Benue. Ortom never recruited thugs to get his second Term- SGF Akume stressed.
In his remarks, the Tor Tiv Professor James Ayatse who spoke in the Tiv language said, “From today henceforth, the statement; No Alia, No Benue must stop.
“Benue is bigger than any individual, such a statement is capable of causing a crisis, Benue belongs to all of us,” the paramount ruler stressed.
