The appointment of George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, as a way to pacify the North Central has been described inadequate by the region.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Akume, a former governor of Benue state on Sunday and Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives as Chief of Staff, CoS.
The choice of Akume was said to have been the president’s response to the North Central agitation for the position of the Speaker.
But the president’s decision seems not to go down well with some leaders from the area, under the aegis of the North Central People’s Forum, NCPF, who said they will only be satisfied with two of their people appointed as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in the administration, and Deputy Senate President.
The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, had already endorsed Godswill Akpabio and Jubril Barau from the North West as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively.
But in a statement signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Audu Sule, the NCPF said the region gave more votes to the party during the last election, and so deserved more rewards.
It said an indigene of the FCT, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and Kwara States, should be appointed the FCT minister.
The statement said, “First of all we thank Mr President for appointing one of our sons, father and brother as the SGF. We want to particularly congratulate Sen George Akume for the appointment because he is eminently qualified.
“But that is not enough to pacify us. If you look at the vote the APC pulled in North Central it was massive. We were able to lead in all the states except for Plateau and FCT which went to the Labour Party.
“We want the office of the deputy Senate president to go to the North Central. That is the office we have not occupied. In the past, military governments appointed ministers of FCT from the North Central. That’s what we want from the present administration.
“Also, if you check in the previous government, the North East had a Senate President and the SGF. So, we want the office of the deputy Senate president. It will be good for the north central to get it because out of the seven states, we give five to the APC.
“We are also calling for the North Central state to be considered for the office of the FCT minister because the people understand the area very well. Also, the FCT should be given a ministerial appointment.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has postponed his meeting with opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly over the contest for principal offices.
The meeting, his advisers said will now take place at an undisclosed date.
