By Salisu Sani-Idris, Makurdi
In a significant political intervention, Vice President Kashim Shettima has publicly pledged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu will actively work to preserve the crucial relationship between Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume. This assurance was delivered on Sunday in Makurdi during the wedding reception of Senator Akume’s son, an event that served as a high-profile platform for political messaging.
Shettima framed his commitment not merely as a political maneuver but as a “moral obligation” stemming from his role as a leader in Northern Nigeria. His statement directly addresses widespread reports of a rift between the two key figures from Benue State—a divide that threatens the cohesion of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a strategically important region.
“We have that moral obligation to step in and heal the wounds,” Shettima declared. “What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. If this relationship goes asunder, it is the people of Benue that will suffer. It is the people of the North Central that will suffer, it is the people of Nigeria that will suffer.”
This emphasis on collective suffering underscores the high stakes involved. Benue State, often described as Nigeria’s “food basket,” has been plagued by persistent farmer-herder conflicts and security challenges. A fractured leadership in the state could hinder coordinated security responses and the implementation of federal aid programs, directly impacting national food security and stability in the North Central geopolitical zone.
In his remarks, Shettima bestowed high praise on Senator Akume, describing him as “the longest-serving public servant in the contemporary history of Nigeria,” a record previously held by former APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje. Akume’s career spans from his election as Governor of Benue in 1999 to his tenure as Senator and now SGF, making him a foundational figure in the Fourth Republic and a repository of institutional knowledge.
Conversely, the Vice President commended Governor Alia for his “transformative agenda,” stating, “Your Excellency, we are mighty proud of you… we adore you for your transformative agenda.” This balanced commendation appears designed to validate both men, acknowledging Akume’s veteran status and Alia’s fresh executive mandate, thereby creating a basis for reconciliation.
In his response, Senator Akume paid tribute to President Tinubu’s “purposeful leadership,
