Still on “Akume made Ortom Governor”

Read Excerpts From Tahav Agerzua

“The generalisation that Akume made ALL BENUE POLITICIANS is not possible as there was politics and politicians on the scene before the emergence of Senator Dr George Akume.

“For instance, there was Achihiga Abuul, J S Tarka and their contemporaries, then Governor Aper Aku and his generation after which Governor Adasu came on the scene at the same time with Dr Iyorchia Ayu and several others.

“Those conversant with political development in Benue can recall that people like Terwase Orbunde and Terhemba Shija were elected into the House of Representatives at the time Dr Ayu, Senator David Iornem and Senator Ameh Ebute were in the red Chambers in the early nineties. By this time the former Governor was still in the Civil Service.

“Senator Barnabas Gemade was the national chairman of a national political party and coordinating chairman of all the five political parties at the time. Believe me, Akume had no hand in these arrangements.

“It should be noted that before Senator Akume had the capacity to make meaningful contributions to the upliftment of most of those mentioned, they contributed in several ways in making him Governor and equipping him to be able to lift them.

“Remember that Ortom, Udende and Tor Shimbe had been elected local government chairmen who had gathered experience and influence just like several others who had electoral value which they brought to bear on the Akume Governorship Project which they did.

“A Governor is elected to improve the lives of as many people as he can, particularly those of his electorate. Moreover, in a democratic dispensation there are many positions that the Governor cannot fill. It is imperative that he appoints a cabinet and works with the party structure.

“It is also a fact that much as an appointment is a privilege and favour the appointee also has responsibilities and contributions to make in an administration. He or she should should have value to add.

“Senator Akume gave some of juicy appointments, no doubt, but many gave him the most juicy and powerful position of Governor and also made contributions to his administration. For one to only mention the one part without the other is not the whole picture.

“For Senator Akume to continually boast that he made people without ever mentioning the contributions they made to his political career has contributed to his present travails.

“I have biological children who are graduates with families and cars. I don’t think it’s proper for me to go to town shouting that I made such children. I think it’s normal for a father to asist his children to get all those things.

“Senator Akume and his praise singers should remember that the powers that be at the time were grooming the late William Mozeh to be Governor but as they say man proposes but God disposes, Mozeh sustained spinal cord injury and Akume was drafted to fill the gap. But that is a story for another day”