. . . . Project Akutah for 2031 governorship
There are strong indications that Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, Chief Simeon Sango and Senator Jack Gyado have parted ways with the political camp of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Benue State.
Investigation by this newspaper indicated that the trio who were core loyalists of Senator George Akume have now thrown their weight behind the Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia in his quest to seek reelection for a second term in office in 2027.
Reliable Intel also indicated that Hagher, Sango and Gyado are demanding a sum of N10billion from Alia as their settlement to dump the SGF’s camp and back his reelection in 2027 by stopping other political parties ahead of the election.
“These three Benue All Progressive Congress elders are now with Governor Hyacinth Alia and they have indicated their support for the reelection bid of the Governor. Hagher, Sango and Gyado are Alia’s fathers and I want you to go and trace their relationship with the governor right from 2022. They were the ones that convinced Senator George Akume to ensure that Alia emerged as the APC governorship candidate in 2022 despite all odds. They are back to support the governor once again” a top elder of the Benue APC said.
Meanwhile, further findings have shown that the trio are working with Governor Hyacinth Alia to support the embattled Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah to succeed him in 2031.
According to investigation, Alia has agreed to halt the existing arrangement which rotates governorship between Benue Northwest and Benue Northeast senatorial zones every eight years so that Pius Akutah can succeed him in 2031.
Sources who are in the know told this newspaper that Akutah had to solicit Professor Hagher who was a former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Elder Sango and Senator Gyado to support his 2031 governorship ambition.
At a meeting the trio held with Governor Hyacinth Alia at the Benue Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja two weeks ago, Akutah’s readiness to work with Governor Alia to ensure that he wins his reelection in 2027 was mentioned but with a condition that the governor also backs him in 2031.
Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Benue Coalition for Justice, BCJ has condemned the statement being credited to Akutah that he would get governorship nomination for the 2027 election as the Independent National Electoral Commission has begun the uploading of successful candidates names on its official portal.
The advocacy group in a press statement signed by its President, Ambassador Joshua Dajoh this morning wondered how Akutah who secretly bought his Nomination Forms but didn’t participate at the All Progressive Congress screening exercise as well as the primaries expects to secure nomination for the 2027 election.
The group stated that it will soon send a worded petition to President Bola Tinubu and Senator George Akume over Akutah’s insubordination, noting that he ignored a presidential directive which asked all federal government appointees who were seeking elective offices in the 2027 general elections to resign.
“He is still holding his office as the Executive Secretary of the NSC and that is against the presidential directive. We shall communicate our petition to Mr. President on this too .
“He boasted that he would be nominated by APC to replace Alia but after failing to do get the nomination, he has now recruited Hagher, who is his strongest supporter, Sango and Gyado to begin talks with Alia so he can succeed him in 2031.
“One thing is clear, if Alia wins again, Akutah cannot even come back to his position at the NSC and also, the political career of SGF will end because Alia will be in charge as it will mean that Akume doesn’t have any support at home” the group said
The group added that Senator Akume has been betrayed by Hagher, Sango and Gyado who have now pulled out of his political camp on the order of Pius Akutah who is already working with Governor Hyacinth Alia to win reelection in 2027 for him (Akutah) to become governor in 2031.
According to the group, Akutah and the trio of Hagher, Sango and Gyado are working with Father Alia to stop the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Professor Sebastine Hon, SAN and governorship candidates of other political parties with media propaganda ahead of the 2027 election.
“These are the people who destroyed Senator George Akume by misleading him to make Alia the candidate of the APC in 2022 because they felt that he would be easy to manipulate as a Catholic priest”
The group also questioned the moral standard of Pius Akutah who wickedly sacked thirteen Tiv people who were employed by Barrister Emmanuel Jime when he was the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council.
Ends
