Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume on Saturday revealed that Father Hyacinth Alia is currently beclouded by enemy-like politicians in Benue State who wanted him dead even before the March 18th, 2023 governorship elections.
Senator Akume said he wholeheartedly presented to the Benue people to unanimously vote for Father Alia but now fears that the man he knew in the 2023 governorship election is not the same today leading the ‘Food Basket’ State.
SGF Akume stated this while speaking at the funeral ceremony of the late Paul Unongo- in Kendev-Kwande Local Government of Benue State, a significant figure in Nigerian politics, having served as the chairman of the Northern Elders Forum and known for his dedication to national unity and justice, a true son of the Tiv people.
“The people who wanted to kill Father Alia are the ones who are now with him. That is the way of most of our brothers,” Akume stressed.
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Senator Akume lamented that Governor Alia has since been hijacked by cheersupporters who do not mean well for the people of Benue State.
A visibly vexed Akume told the gathering that he was instrumental to the emergence of Father Alia as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election despite stiff opposition from big political wigs like chief Barnabas Gemade and Gabriel Suswan, a former governor of the State.
“When I speak, what do I say? They should note that Father Alia that I knew is different from the Father Alia of now.
“I am saying today that I like Father Alia. Himself knows this. But the cheerleaders have taken him away from us. The truth is that neither Suswan, Gemande, nor Akaageger supported him. This is a statement of fact. They didn’t support him. So, what has I George Akume done?” the SGF told the mammoth crowd.
Senator Akume spoke in Tiv but NewsQuest presents the transcription excerpts:
“I came here. Listen, what I want to tell you, look, what I am holding in my hands, see, is the speech of the President of Nigeria. I want to give it to Jude, who is my brother.
Avaver who gave birth to Jude is my aunty, you hear me? I am not just ordinary in this burial ceremony. This burial is my event. If you remember, when they were burying the mother of Jude, I was here. When they were burying the wife of Gyado-Magi, Magi, and the mother of Jude, Professor Tseayor Agragi were the same mother.
“All of these people are the same parents and are my relations. They grew up together with me from Mbakor. I ought to be here at this burial.
“What I have here with me, I am giving it to Jude. Jude far away from the United States, I don’t think you will be happy to see what has happened here now. That is not how it is done. Do you hear me? But if you hear me, don’t make some noise.
“I will hand over this document to you, a letter from the President to the family of this great Nigerian. So, please, listen. I greet you all.
“I want to greet our Father, our Father Alia, our Governor who has just spoken. I think there was a little hitch in protocol. That is why it has become so confusing like the crab ways. That is not the issue. The main issue is what we are talking to you about.
“Our father who today is no more, I have known him for so long. We have done so many things together. Our father called me in Jos, he did not only bless me, he said that he had given me the entire Tiv land.
“He also told me that I should give Father Alia Governor of Benue State. If I am lying, may I be destroyed by God? Wnateregh told me that those children that have insulted me behind, cheerleaders like Gemande, Suswan, and others, this son is different. He is a Reverend Father. You George, you are a Father, I am not a Reverend but Alia won’t abuse you. What those two did to you, Father Alia won’t do the same.
“Wanteregh told me to look, that he wanted me and Father Alia to bury him. This is what he told me. Alia as a Governor and me as a top government functionary. There is no confusion about this.
“But as Governor told you earlier, other cheerleaders have already run away. Gemande had taken Father Alia to Court if you remember. He took the Governor to the Supreme Court and that he was not feat to be Governor.
“Look, the insults that Gemande meted on me, I leave him to God. Bad prayers against me that I should die before Joshua, the man died before me, nobody prays against me and lives.
“This one they call Suswan, when he contested the House of Representatives, Gemande told me to cancel that thing and it should be given to his inlaw Hindan Atoza, I was the one who didn’t allow that.
“Secondly, Akighga defeated him, I collected it and gave it to him (Suswan). I am telling you these things so that you Tiv people will know what is going on. “
