The the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Benue State has lampooned the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, over his call for a state of emergency in the state.
The party Chairman in the state, Mr. John Ngbede, flanked by other party officials, while briefing journalists at the party secretariat on Wednesday, said the Minister’s outing was only a recurring genuflection for crumbs.
The PDP in the speech tagged, “Akume’s Shocking Betrayal Of Benue People For Crumbs,” pointed out that “If everyone in Benue State is dead and every property is destroyed, and every land taken, yet Akume has access to unlimited Benue State Government funds, from which he could fund his liquor-induced hedonism, all will be well.
“The call for a declaration of a state of emergency in Benue State is Senator Akume’s strategy to use federal might to get through the back door what he failed to achieve at the polls in 2019,” the party said.
“On Monday, August 30th, 2021, Senator George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, regurgitated the press conference he addressed on 14th September, 2018, almost word for word.
“That press conference was held as a reaction to the dramatic departure of Governor Samuel Ortom from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and re-entry into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Governor Ortom took along with him massive members of the ruling party at the national level. His defection sounded the death knell for Senator Akume’s elective political career as was manifested in the 2019 General Election.
“All the fabrications of figures in Senator Akume’s press conference, the panegyric for President Muhammadu Buhari, the demonizing of Governor Ortom, the denial of attacks on Benue people, the lack of mention of the over N1.5 million IDPs in the various camps across the state is all targeted at access to Benue State government funds.
“This is also reminiscent of his futile attempt in 2018 to impeach Governor Ortom through a kangaroo impeachment that fell flat on its face as he could not rally a quorum of 10 members of the 30-member Assembly to execute his diabolical pecuniary plan.”
The PDP which described all the figures quoted by Senator Akume as monies given to Benue State under Governor Ortom is a tissue of lies said “Senator Akume’s unsubstantiated allegation that Governor Ortom allocates N800 million monthly to himself as security votes is a product of a continuous inebriated mind and not true.
READ ALSO: Jonathan Congratulates Olu Of Warri
“We challenge Senator Akume to prove his allegations. Even with the dire financial condition of the state, the State Government funds the activities all of the security outfits in the state including Operation Whirl Stroke, the Civil Defence, the Police, the State Security Services. In any case, Senator Akume has not disclosed how much he collected as security votes during his tenure as governor, neither has he called upon his paymasters to disclose how much is being allocated to the Presidency as security votes.
“We wish Senator Akume well on his path of self destruction. But we will counsel him to beware of the increasingly heavier price he is eager to pay for a declining share of the crumbs.
“Hopes of his Senate Presidency faded soon after they were nurtured, just like dreams of a choice ministry for him ended with a non-descript portfolio typically reserved for entry-level politicians.
“More sacrifices, including the blood of Benue people, will not improve his fortunes with his puppeteers. For Sen. Akume and his fellow travelers who have been recruited for the Benue conquest and occupation agenda, they will do well to heed the wise counsel of Senator Emmanuel Orker-Jev, who humiliatingly defeated Senator Akume in 2019 on PDP platform, for treading this same path.
“In the words of Senator Orker-Jev, “in the fullness of time, the benefits of the moment will pass away and we will hand over such people to posterity,” the PDP re-echoed.
