Insecurity: Akume, other saboteurs frustrating peace-building efforts in MiddleBelt – Group

MiddleBelt leaders have been urged to sanction former Benue State governor, George Akume, for allegedly sponsoring saboteurs operating within the region to frustrate all peace-building efforts made by leaders of the zone.

Benue Youth Forum, which made this call in a statement on Friday, 23 July 2021, alleged that with such acts of sabotage within the Middle Belt, it has become obvious that the Federal Government is not yet ready for peace to return to the region that has been ravaged by killer herdsmen in the last couple of years.

The group specifically recalled that recently, Akume, who is now Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at a public function discredited all efforts made by the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and other leaders of the Middle Belt castigating them just to promote our enemies.

Terrence Kuanum, President Benue Youth Forum/Coodinator Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents, in a statement said the leadership of the Middle Belt Forum should as a matter of urgency call “saboteurs like George Akume to order and anyone who refuses to comply should be sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others. Such acts are too dangerous to be ignored by a society that truly wants peace.”

The statement reads in full.

As youths of the region which produces the bulk of the food that feeds Nigeria, we are worried that if nothing is done fast to stem the unfortunate tide, the future of generations after ours is not guaranteed.

Recent events have made it more worrisome realizing that a government whom we all know has been overwhelmed by criminal elements has suddenly become so proactive in fighting peaceful secessionists in the South East and South West.

The same Government has recruited some elements among us to blame our people for the devastation visited on our land by Fulani herdsmen. They have weaved a terrible narrative that our people are the ones killing themselves.

It will be recalled that just recently, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at a public function discredited all efforts made by the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and other leaders of the Middle Belt castigating them just to promote our enemies. Akume has on several occasions absorbed Fulani killer herdsmen of all blames describing them as the “best friends” of the Tiv and other tribes in the region.

Just before the 2019 elections, Akume went on national television to declare before the entire world that Tiv people were the ones killing themselves. He accused Governor Ortom and other leaders in the region of sponsoring militia to rustle Fulani cows.

We also recall that during the mass burial Benue State Government organized for the 73 people killed by Fulani in Guma and Logo local government area in 2018, Akume rose up to speak and instead of consoling the bereaved families, he was busy telling the people that President Buhari loves them. He received overwhelming boos and jeers instantly.

The leadership of the Northern Governors Forum has also consistently kept mute on activities of the killer herdsmen but rather prefers to politick with the killing of our people which is worrisome moreso that the chairman of the Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State is one of us who is expected to have known our challenges, pains and peculiarities.

The Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents has found activities of these traitors quite disturbing and wishes to caution them to retrace their steps and support patriotic leaders of the Middle Belt such as Governor Samuel Ortom, Obadiah Mailafia, Dr Bitrus Pogu among others to bring back peace to our communities and to alleviate the suffering of our people.

We commend the above mentioned leaders for their exceptional qualities of ensuring that the people of the Middle Belt have a voice and also live in peace. We urge them not to be discouraged by the betrayal of a few elements who have sold their souls and conscience for a pot of porridge and are willing tools in the hands of our enemies. Such individuals have a dark spot in the history of the Middle Belt region and generations to come will remember their acts of perfidy. A man like Sen George Akume ought to be grateful to God and the people of Benue State. He is one of the very few Nigerians to hold the positions of Governor, Senator and Minister. All that honour was bestowed on him by the same people he castigates today as killers and cattle rustlers.

We wish to call on sons and daughters of the Middle Belt to remember that the region is the bedrock and stabilizing factor of this nation and all efforts must be made by patriotic citizens of this country to see that peace is sustained in the region for the benefit of the entire country.

We caution the sponsored saboteurs to realize that they have no other home than the Middle Belt and no amount of personal interest or politics should push them to compromise their patriotism to their own land. The option they have now is to publicly apologize to victims of Fulani attacks whom they have insulted and accused as killers. Akume and his ilk should also apologize to Governor Ortom for maliciously accusing him and waging a campaign of attrition against him.

Finally, the leadership of the Middle Belt Forum should as a matter of urgency, liaise with our traditional rulers to call saboteurs like George Akume to order and anyone who refuses to comply should be sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others. Such acts are too dangerous to be ignored by a society that truly wants peace.