Ahmad MoAllahyidi, a former senator who represented Adamawa South in the 8th National Assembly, has strongly criticized Audu Ogbeh, a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, for his call to remove Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Ogbeh, alongside stakeholders from the Idoma community, held a press conference on August 1st, expressing reservations about the inclusion of Prof Joseph Utsev, a Tiv indigene from Benue State, as a ministerial nominee. Ogbeh asserted that Utsev’s nomination highlighted the marginalization of the Idoma people in the state and called for Akume’s dismissal, claiming his influence in the selection of Utsev was evidence of this bias.
Responding through a statement released on Saturday, MoAllahyidi expressed his disappointment and viewed Ogbeh’s actions as unfortunate. The convener of Arewa New Agenda also voiced concerns about the ripple effects triggered by Ogbeh’s stance, leading to unidentified groups launching smear campaigns against the SGF.
He said, “Of particular interest to us at this point in time is the utterances of our own very respected elder statesman Chief Audu Ogbe, calling for the sack of the secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. It would have been okay and taken as their democratic right to voice opinion and canvas for positions if Chief Ogbe and his co-agitators had stopped at that.
“But they went ahead to allege that the development is the handiwork of the SGF to spite the Idoma race and called for his sack. This is where ANA finds it strange and wishes to intervene by setting the record straight to avoid sending the wrong message to the Nigerian people.
“The appointment of Akume as SGF by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the early days of setting up the governance machinery of his administration received wide acceptance across the length and breadth of the country especially amongst the different strata of political and social circles as it provided the balancing needed for political stability after the keenly contested 2023 presidential election.”
Continuing his remarks, MoAllahyidi commended Akume for being a pillar of stability within the country’s political landscape. He emphasized that the significance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation extends beyond representing solely the state; instead, Akume stands as a representative of the entire North-Central geopolitical zone.
He stated, “Sen. Akume’s appointment is for the North-Central geopolitical zone and properly located among the northern Christian bloc for socio-political expediency. An appointment that holds so much for the stability of the Nigerian nation must not be reduced to a Benue State local political fight. He represents northern Nigeria in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. More than that, he is an essential political stabilizing rod maintaining balance in the Nigerian political equation.
“We are unhappy that Chief Ogbe’s stance on Akume’s appointment has exposed him to uncomplimentary comments by those who would otherwise not have had such an opportunity. Those not qualified to join issues with him now take turns in berating him.”
