The Jemgbagh Youth Alliance, JYA,
on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari and leadership of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, to probe the Minister of Special Duties, George
Akume.
JYA explained that Buhari should
probe Akume over his alleged handling of N2bn campaign fund of the APC in Benue
State.
In a statement by its President,
Ternenge Bendega, JYA claimed that the money was to be used in ensuring that
the State Governor, Samuel Ortom lost the 2019 election.
The group also advocated for the
prosecution of APC 2019 governorship candidate in the state, Emmanuel Jime for
vote-buying.
The statement reads: “We call on
President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of All Progressives Congress,
APC, to order for the probe of the Minister of Special Duties and
Inter-governmental Affairs, George Akume in his handling of the N2 billion
campaign funds the APC sent to Benue State in its bid to remove Governor Samuel
Ortom from office during the 2019 elections.
“At a time the country is passing
through difficult times, we wonder from which sources APC was able to raise N2
billion to give to Akume, Emmanuel Jime, the governorship candidate and others
for campaign to lavish. More curious is the manner Akume and co managed the
funds.
“It is no longer news that the
combined forces of APC which boasted about “federal might” crumbled like a pack
of cards in Benue State. Governor Ortom and his PDP team were unanimously
returned elected.
“On the eve of the governorship
election, Senator Akume and others were seen sharing large sums of money
ostensibly meant for vote buying but instead of sending the money to their
agents, they pocketed it. The development angered some of their members who
vowed to ensure the defeat of the party.
“You will recall that Jime was
caught with raw cash on the day of the election. That money was part of the N2
billion campaign funds he and Akume diverted. He ran away but his aides were
arrested.
“We also demand for the prosecution
of Jime and those aides. Such a heinous electoral crime should not be allowed
to go unpunished. Jime is also facing likely prosecution for diverting N14.3
billion of Nigeria Export Promoting Zones Authority, NEPZA funds to a private
company. The Senate is investigating the fraud and we hope that justice will be
served.
“Senator Akume has a record of
public funds diversion. He is yet to account for the N2 billion he
misappropriated towards the end of his second tenure as Governor in 2007. He
used the money to campaign for the seat of Senate President but lost to Senator
David Mark. The funds have yet to be accounted for more than 12 years down the
lane.
“Akume is a liquor induced
personality who has arrogated to himself powers of God. In 2007, while
presenting his profile at the Senate chamber while contesting for the seat of
Senate President, Akume contradicted himself by saying he became Governor in
1949 and 1979.
“Last year, we all watched with
utmost shame and disappointment, the presentation of the Vice Chairman, Senate
Committee on Army, Senator Abdullahi Danbaba who rightly blamed the committee’s
non-performance on poor leadership by Senator George Akume who was chairman of
the committee. That was the highest embarrassment Benue has ever suffered in
the hands of any of its representatives at the National Assembly.
“For a man who governed Benue
State for eight years and spent 12 years in the Senate, the indictment of
Senator Akume by his Vice in the Senate Committee on Army was proof that the
Senator no longer deserved to return to the red chamber. Benue people did the
needful at the polls.
“In the Senate, Akume was often
caught sleeping deeply during plenary sessions.
“Minister Akume’s widely known
love for liquor and habitual drunkenness is another cause of worry to us his
kinsmen. A man who begins to drink as early as 6am is not fit to sit in the
highest decision making body of the country as he presently does in the Federal
Executive Council.”
JYA insisted that Akume failed
during his time as a Senator, stressing that he never moved a single motion on
the floor of the Senate.
The statement said: “As a
senator, Akume did not move a single motion or sponsored just one bill in 12
years. His “stewardship” in the red chamber was all about local politics of
insisting that he must install a Governor for Benue when his colleagues were
busy taking big decisions on the national stage. He has continued with such
local mentality even now that he is a minister.”
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