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Tag: Akume

  • Ortom, Akume, Gemade meet Buhari over Fed appointments

    Ortom, Akume, Gemade meet Buhari over Fed appointments

    Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on the for more appointments of people from the state into federal positions.

    Ortom was accompanied by a former Governor George Akume and Senator Banabas Gemade.

    Addressing State House correspondents, Ortom said Benue residents overwhelmingly voted for the President in the March 28 election and needed to be given a sense of belonging.

    The governor said the state had qualified persons of integrity who could contribute positively to the nation’s progress.

    He said: “We believe that we are endowed with the capacity to deliver and sustain food security for our nation, even beyond our nation.

    “So, we are happy about this. We appreciate Mr. President and we also know that we overwhelmingly voted for Mr. President. We have the capacity, the manpower. There are so many of our people who can add value to the development of this country through several appointments.

    “Mr. President, we are not being Oliver Twist, but we believe that we have the capacity to also present other sons and daughters of Benue State to be appointed into other key positions. That is why we are here today.

    “We know that the appointment of ministers is not the end; there are several other appointments that will still come. We are sure that the Tiv will be carried along.”

    Thanking President Buhari for appointing one of Benue sons, Chief Audu Ogbe, as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ortom said: “Beyond that, Audu Ogbe is a detrabalised person; he is known to carry everybody along. We are sure he will represent our interest.

    “Above all, we believe that in the next appointments, the interest of our sons and daughters will be taken into consideration.”

    The governor pledged to support Ogbeh, whom he said would collaborate with the state to pursue the nation’s food security policy.

    He said: “We came to thank Mr. President for appointing …Chief Ogbe as minister and subsequently swore him in as Minister for Agriculture.

    “That is putting a round peg in a round hole. And we are happy that Benue State is the food basket of this nation and Chief Ogbe is known for his passion for agriculture and agric business. We believe that with Ogbe as minister, Benue State will collaborate with him very well and Nigeria will have the dividends of democracy through agriculture.”

    Ortom also said Benue State hitherto lacked the right people with the right policies.

    The governor noted that this was why it had not been able to tap into its agriculture potentials.

    He said: “Today, I am a farmer; Chief Ogbe is also a farmer. All of us are farmers. We have put in place the enabling environment not just for agriculture to thrive. But the main problem has been that of storage, processing and marketing.

    “These are areas that we are expanding and inviting investors to come into. We believe that this time round, the story will be different.”

     

     

     

  • I’m not doing Akume’s bidding, says Ortom

    I’m not doing Akume’s bidding, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has debunked the claims that Senator George Akume is putting pressure on him to probe the Gabriel Suswam administration.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, after the Makurdi High Court lifted the stay of proceedings on the commissions of enquiry his administration constituted to examine the state’s finances under the former governor.

    Ortom explained why he set up two probe panels to investigate the former administration.

    He said: “Akume has not told me to probe anyone; it is the people of Benue State. The people came out unanimously and said that I should verify where their money is. They are concerned. So, anyone who has taken this money should bring it back.”

    Suswam filed two suits challenging the probe panels set up by his successor.

    But, responding to the judgment of the High Court to lift the stay on proceedings, Ortom said: “I want to thank God. Like I keep saying, those two panels were not set up to witch-hunt anyone. The people of Benue State want to know what happened to their funds. What went wrong with the money that accrued from the sales of the government’s shares in the Benue Cement Company (BCC) amounting to N8.3 billion?

    “Where are the funds that came to Benue State through the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P); the money that came through the sale of shares from Julius Berger and the money that came through several other means within eight years? The amount of debt we have inherited is alarming. We have provided a platform for people to exonerate themselves, if they are not culpable. If they are, then what we are saying is that they must repend and make restitution by returning such funds.”

    On the second probe panel, the governor said it was meant to verify the government’s assets.

    He said: “How would people just buy off government’s property, including parts of the Government Houses? It is unthinkable that a government under my watch would just fold its hands.”

     

     

     

     

  • Akume: She was a true nationalist

    Akume: She was a true nationalist

    Former Senate Minority Leader George Akume has described the demise of the HID Awolowo as a great loss to the nation.

    In a press statement by his Media Aide, Becky Orpin, Akume said the deceased was a true nationalist like her late husband who loved Nigeria.

    Akume lamented that the matriarch of Awolowo’s family died at the time her wise counsel on democracy would be needed and pray God to give the Awolowo family to bear the loss.

     

  • Ortom, Akume, condole El-Rufai

    Ortom, Akume, condole El-Rufai

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, in the early hours of Friday in Kaduna paid a condolence visit on his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, following the recent loss of his foster father, Alhaji Yahaya Hamza.

    All Progressives Congress, APC, leader in Benue State and Senator representing Benue North West, Senator Dr George Akume led the condolence delegation.

    Governor Ortom stated that the visit which had been scheduled earlier could not hold because of unforeseen circumstances.

    [ad id=”403656″]He described the death of a dear one as painful at whatever age but urged his colleague to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a life of committed service to his fatherland adding that all must one day return to the creator.

    Senator Akume who stated that he knew the late Alhaji Hamza at the Federal Ministry of Education described him as a humble and unassuming man.

    In his response Governor El-Rufai said he would always remember his cousin who adopted him at the age of eight when he lost his father as kind hearted and accomplished educationist.

    The deceased was one time Secretary to Kaduna State Government and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.

    He died at the age of 82.

  • APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts

    APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts

    Why Ekweremadu should go, by Unity Forum

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are backing Ahmed Lawan,  Femi Gbajabiamila,  George Akume and five others as principal officers of the National Assembly, The Nation learnt last night.

    The party has adopted the lists submitted to it by The Unity Forum (Senate) and The Loyalists (House of Representatives) to heal the wounds and reconcile all after the June 9 controversial elections.

    This has put pressure on Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    It was learnt that more than 12 members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) supported the candidates recommended by The Unity Forum and The Loyalists.

    Those recommended by the party as principal officers in the Senate are Lawan(Majority Leader); Prof. Sola Adeyeye( Chief Whip); Sen. George Akume( Deputy Majority Leader); and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip).

    The list for the House of Representatives has  Gbajabiamila( House Leader); Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa( Deputy House Leader); M. T. Monguno(Chief Whip) and Hon. Pally Iriase (Deputy Chief Whip).

    A source said: “Most members of the NWC and leaders of the APC are fully in support of the lists from the Unity Forum and The Loyalists. We need to heal wounds and move forward.

    “It will only be fair and just if the aggrieved legislators are allowed to choose among themselves the principal officers.”

    The leaderships of the two groups generated lists which they sent to the APC National Chairman, who is expected to send them to the Senate President.

    Asked if the lists are binding on Saraki and Dogara, the source said: “They have no discretion in the matter; they must abide by it if they are really loyal party members.

    “It is the responsibility of the party to recommend these principal officers. In 2011, we were told that the President of the 7th Senate, Chief David Mark was not going to work with Akume as minority leader but the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria insisted on Akume.”

    None of the officers of the party was willing to speak with the press last night.

    For the first time after the crisis of confidence erupted among APC Senators Saraki and Lawan met at Oyegun’s residence to explore the possibility of reconciliation.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said after Oyegun sued for reconciliation, Saraki and Lawan were asked to retire into a room for “frank talks.”

    The source said: “We were all happy that Saraki and Lawan agreed to hold a tête-à-tête for the first time and we waited with bated breath for what they will agree upon.

    “Two issues were at stake: whether the party should recommend nominees for principal offices in the Senate or zonal caucuses should nominate candidates.

    “Neither of them spoke on the outcome of their talks. But we learnt they have gone back for consultations with their groups.”

    A national officer said: “The party’s decision must be respected. The party cannot sacrifice loyal members for those who conspired with PDP.

    “Look at the House, is it proper to do away with the wish of 174 APC members? Absolutely no.”

    The Unity Forum has tabled six reasons why the election of the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu is dangerous for the APC-led Federal Government.

    The June 21st letter reads: “It is with utmost humility and a deep sense of responsibility that we write to appraise you of the dire implications of the emergence of the PDP Senator, Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy President of the Senate at this critical time when our party should have been properly positioned in the Senate to enable the smooth take-off of this administration.

    “While doing so, we reckon the great expectation the Nigerian people have had on us as agents of change and our party manifesto as a facilitator of this breakthrough.

    “Although the tradition in the Nigerian Senate concedes much power to the Senate President, it is indeed the Deputy Senate President that directly interacts and controls the day to day activities of the Senate.

    ” Some of the functions of the office include:

    •Regularly presiding over the plenary session of Senate especially during those times the Senate President may be away attending to other functions. This could afford him and his party the opportunity to frustrate the good intentions of our government.

    •The Deputy Senate President is chairman of Constitution Review Committee, which conducts the exercise of carrying out fundamental changes in our Supreme Law. This position may give him and his party, the PDP the opportunity to frustrate necessary and vital constitutional amendments in the course of this administration.

    •By legislative convention, the Deputy Senate President collects and supervises the final budget documents in the preparation of the Appropriation Bill. This is the most important piece of legislation in the realization of our party’s manifesto which must not be left in the hands of the opposition party.

    •The Deputy Senate President is statutorily the chairman of the Governing Council of the National Institute of Leguslative Studies (NILS). This institution is charged with the responsibility of building capacity for our legislators and their supporting staff.

    •The Deputy Senate President also represents the Nigerian Legislature at the ECOWAS Parliament as Speaker. It is certainly a misnomer for a government to be represented at the international level by someone outside our party.

    •And many other functions that might be assigned him by the President of the Senate.

    “With the above functions of the Deputy Senate President, we feel extremely concerned about implications of a PDP Senator occupying this exalted position at this time when Nigerians have voted for change.”

  • Lawan, Akume ticket: Best for senate, best for Nigeria

    Lawan, Akume ticket: Best for senate, best for Nigeria

    With the benefit of hindsight, one would applaud the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to refrain from allocating the Senate presidency to a particular geo-political zone. Now, the big question of who leads the National Assembly would be settled by the Senators themselves.

    At first, the Senate-presidency spotlight was trained on Senators George Akume and Bukola Saraki. Akume had appeared to have a head-start as he had led the APC in the Senate as the Minority Leader. But that head-start vanished once Senator Ahmed Lawan came into the picture.

    Nigeria practices the United States of American version of Presidential democracy.  Seniority in the United States Senate is not only well-known but has remained valuable as it confers a number of perquisites and is based on length of continuous service, with ties broken by a series of factors. The beauty of that convention should now be appreciated because of the tie over when Akume and Lawan became Senators.

    The United States Constitution does not mandate differences in rights or power, but Senate rules give more power to senators with more seniority. Senators are given preferential treatment in choosing committee assignments based on seniority. While the Nigerian Senate elects its leader from among fellow Senators, the US Senate is actually headed by the Vice-President but whose duties are mainly carried out by the president pro tempore of the Senate. Even here, the person so chosen is traditionally the majority party’s most senior member.

    So before we discuss who convention actually favours between Akume and Lawan as Senate President, there is an uncommon and effective case for Senator Ahmed Lawan. Apart from his not being a rookie, having served as a member of the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, and so should easily command the respect of both chambers of the National Assembly, that Lawan is from the North-East geo-political zone is a point that should not be glossed over.

    The North-East and the South-South are the only zones in the country that have never produced either the Senate-President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or even their deputies. But the South-South has more than compensated for this when it produced the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Secondly, Akume and Sariki’s North-Central zone, has held the Senate presidency for eight years, and the zone’s, late Haruna Abubakar and Ibrahim Mantu have been Deputy Senate Presidents. So, that Akume should have entered into talks with Lawan and has agreed to serve as his deputy provides an example of uncommon statesmanship, will give North-East a great sense of belonging and deepen Nigeria’s democratic conventions.

    Yet, Senator Ahmed Lawan will not be a quota Senate President. Both he and Akume are respectable and serious-minded Senators. So on this score, if the Lawan/Akume ticket flies, and we see no reason why it should not, the Senate and the nation should be having two highly experienced Senators for the two Senate top most seats. Even on this matter of experience, Lawan surely has the upper hand over Akume, and more so over Saraki who hit the Senate four years behind both of them.

    Unfortunately, many commentators stumble on this point. For instance, Mr. Sufuyan Ojeifo argued in a newspaper article that: “overall Akume would appear to have a head start over La­wan. Whereas, Lawan was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007 before his election into the Senate in 2007, the same year Akume got elected into the Senate, in determining ranking, the sen­ate rule does not take into account the fact of previous membership of the either the state legislature or House of Representatives. That makes both Akume and Lawan equal in terms of length of tenure.”

    To that, we say a lusty, stout and stringent NO. Lawan’s 1999-2007 experience is a cognitive legislative experience. Akume’s governorship experience is not. Both have an advantage over Saraki on this score as he came into the Senate in 2011. We have the support of the US Senate on this convention as Wikipedia attests: “A Senator’s seniority is primarily determined by length of continuous service; for example, a senator who has served for 12 years is more senior than one who has served for 10 years. Because several new senators usually join at the beginning of a new Congress, there are eight tiebreakers: 1, former Senator, 2, former Representative, 3,former President of the United States, 4, former Vice President of the United States . The former Governor comes 6th on this list behind even the former Cabinet member. This may sound preposterous but scholars of federal system of government know that while Ministers are officers of the entire Federation, and so must be confirmed by the Senate, Governors are executives of just parts of the Federation.

    And to those who ask why the American example should park a meaning for Nigeria, our reply is simply this: Nigeria is one of the five countries in the whole world that practice presidential bicameral federalism – with Brazil, Argentina Mexico and the US; the model’s originator in 1776.

    Here is another reason why Lawan should lead the next Senate:  The longest-serving Speaker in US House of Representatives history, Sam Rayburn of Texas, said “The old days (of legislative leadership) of pounding on the desk and giving people hell are gone. A man’s got to lead by persuasion and kindness and the best reason—that’s the only way he can lead people.” That is the sort of leadership that can only come from a man as genial, cool and calculated, yet firm and inspiring team player and consensus builder such as Senator Ahmed Lawan. Any person lacking his amazing sort of humility would have started the campaign by making it loud and clear that he holds a Ph.D. But many do not know that the man is so learned. Add to this the fact that he had been Chairman of Public Accounts Committee in the both chambers and a decade before Saraki became a national legislator and every doubt will evaporate because learning, character and experience favour his candidacy – if indeed Nigeria is now ready to practice democracy. Then we should play by the rules.

  • Senate presidency: APC may conduct primaries for Lawan, Saraki, Akume

    Senate presidency: APC may conduct primaries for Lawan, Saraki, Akume

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not keen on zoning principal positions in the 8th National Assembly especially Senate presidency and speakership of the House of Representatives.

    It prefers to allow members decide those who lead them.

    The party, according to its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has decided to throw the positions open to those interested in occupying them.

    He hinted that the APC would rather “do what we did during the presidential primaries.”

    Top ranking party officials are understood to have been holding consultations on the sharing of positions to avoid cracks in their ranks and ensure a smooth take-off for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

    Six blocs in the party are said to be interested in the various offices.

    These are members of the New PDP who defected to APC, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and the South-South.

    The South-East and the South-South are eyeing the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation with Chief Odigie-Oyegun, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governor Chris Ngige and ex-Governor Ogbonnaya Onu tipped as the favourites.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that party leaders from the nation’s six geo political zones have been locked in marathon consultations on power sharing in the last one week.

    The latest of such held on Thursday in Abuja on how to give every bloc a sense of belonging and keep APC family united.

    A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have started consultations because the polity is being heated up on how to share power in the new administration of Gen. Buhari.

    “While we consider the heat as normal in a democracy, we will not allow the jostle for power to cause crisis in our party.

    “Some of us believe that once we get the take-off right, there will be stability for the new government.

    “So far, six blocs have emerged in the party seeking for inclusion in the power sharing formula. They are New PDP, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and the South-South.

    “Three of the most vocal blocs comprise of members of the defunct New PDP, the North-East and the South-West who are making a strong case for top positions.

    “While the North-East is calling on the party to address its marginalisation and suffering under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, members of the New PDP said their sacrifices must be appreciated in the power sharing modules.

    “The North-East said it delivered the second largest bloc votes after the North-West during the presidential poll.

    “The South-West also claimed that it virtually lost relevance in the scheme of things under Jonathan and ought to be adequately compensated.

    “These tendencies are at play in the jostle for the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other principal officers of the National Assembly.

    “We are trying to accommodate all these tendencies in such a manner that it will be a win-win situation for all.”

    The National Chairman of APC, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke on the phone, said: “We will throw these positions open, we will do what we did during the presidential primaries.

    “There has been much noise these days. We will allow the members of the National Assembly to choose their leaders.

    “Nobody is going to impose leaders on the Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives. Otherwise, there will be no stability.

    “There are too many interests, let them sit down and decide who should be their leaders.

    “We have got to a stage that we should allow them to elect their leaders on their own and move forward with our plans for the nation.”

    It was gathered that some leaders of the party from the South-East and South-South have been recommended for the SGF slot.

    They are Chief Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governors Chris Ngige and Ogbonnaya Onu.

    Chief Audu Ogbeh from the North-Central is also belived to be in convention.

    None of those mentioned was willing to talk on the speculations.

  • Northcentral leaders seek support for Akume

    Leaders from the Northcentral zone yesterday rose in support of Senator George Akume’s bid for Senate President.

    They said the position should be retained by the zone, saying current political exigencies demand that the “Doctrine of Necessity” be invoked so that the position can be retained in the Northcentral.

    Current Senate President David Mark is from Benue State in the Northcentral zone.

    Announcing the position of the elders from the zone at a news conference yesterday, Mr. Mohammed Gwaska said the most fragile issue confronting the country is equity in the sharing of political offices and the representation of ethnic minorities and Christian religious groups mainly in the Southeast, Southsouth, Southwest and Northcentral zones in government.

    “In the incoming administration, the President-elect is from the Northwest, while the Chief Justice of the Federation is from the Northeast, the remaining arm of government, the National Assembly, which is led by the Senate President must therefore be headed by someone of ethnic minority group from the Northcentral zone.

    “ Thus, we are delighted to present to the senators one who meets these conditions and much more, Senator George Akume who is Tiv by tribe and a Christian from Benue State,” Gwaska said.

    Gwaska also described Akume as “a man of great humility, a keen listener and a consensus builder.” The elders said if selected as Senate President, Akume would approach the job with focus and purposefulness while maintaining a warm approach to his colleagues.

    “As Minority Leader in the 7th Senate, Akume led the various parties in the senate harmoniously for four years during the time the APC metamorphosed from minority to majority status. He must have experienced the anxieties of his colleagues in the opposition, so Senator Akume would be very sensitive to their needs and aspirations,” he said.

    The elders from the Northcentral said Akume has demonstrated his respect for the Principal Officers of the current Senate, including the Senate President David Mark on whose steps he will follow to avoid “banana peels”.

    They called on Nigerians to support Senator Akume for the position of the Senate President. Other elders present at the meeting are Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Senator Jack Tildey Gardo.

     

  • ‘Akume didn’t visit Tinubu in Lagos’

    ‘Akume didn’t visit Tinubu in Lagos’

    Senate Minority Leader George Akume has said he did not met with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos about the zoning of offices in the National Assembly, especially on the Senate Presidency.

    In a statement, his Special Assistant on Media, Beckie Orpin said Akume and other senators-elect had received the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari at the Eighth National Assembly retreat at the International Conference Centre in Abuja,  on Wednesday.

    “The Senate Minority Leader held other meetings with his colleagues yesterday. He did not meet with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos or anywhere as published in a newspaper.

    “Senator Akume is not pre-occupied with positions for now but rather he is conferring with his colleagues on the need to work for Nigerians and to have a vibrant Eighth National Assembly.

    “That notwithstanding, the point has to be made that Nigeria is in dire need of a National Assembly leadership that is purposeful, focused and result-oriented; one that is capable of providing a legislative agenda that positively complements that of the Executive.”

  • Senate Presidency: Gemade backs Akume

    Senate Presidency: Gemade backs Akume

    Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, on Tuesday threw his weight behind the bid of Senator George Akume to become the next Senate President.

    Gemade, who represents Benue North East Senatorial District, described Akume as not only the highest ranking Senator from the North Central geo-political zone but very suitable to assume the position of Senate President when the eight National Assembly is inaugurated.

    He noted in a statement that the clarification became necessary following mischievous and unfounded rumour making the rounds in parts of Benue State that he is against Akume’s candidature for the position.

    He described the insinuation as “baseless and absolute falsehood and should be disregarded in its entirety.”

    He said that some people who lost election were sowing seeds of discord in the All Progressives Congress (APC) by peddling unfounded rumour.

    He said, “My attention has been drawn to the mischievous and unfounded rumour on cyberspace and some newspapers circulating within Benue State that I am not in support of Senator George Akume’s candidature for the office of Senate President.

    “This is no doubt the handwork of our political opponents who suffered defeat at the just concluded elections and can’t seem to get over it, that are now bent on sowing seed sof discord in our party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby reiterate that if our party, the APC zones the office of the Senate Presidency of the 8th National Assembly to the North Central zone, Senator George Akume who is the highest ranking Senator in the zone should be its choice.

    “Let it be known therefore that as a loyal member of our party I am in complete agreement with the decision of the party and will abide by it.”