OPINION:
Former Governor of Benue State and current Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume has been having political tussles with all Governor since he handed over power to his successor, Senator Gabriel Suswam.
The former senate Minority Leader who also served as Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs had engaged Senator Suswam in an endless tussle that defied all reconciliation efforts, culminating to the Tor Tiv palace on 26 June, 2011 when the paramount ruler waded into the dispute.
Suswam was succeed by Dr Samuel Ortom through the efforts of Senator Akume who acted as his political godfather. However the relationship between the godfather and the godson soon turned sour, again ending at the palace where Tor Tiv settled their face-off on 11th September, 2021.
Only recently, Akume who now occupies the coveted position of SGF was at the palace with the incumbent Governor of the State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hycienth Alia, whom he helped ascend to the position of Governor. The meeting which took place on 2nd April, 2024 at the instance of the Tor Tiv, was again, for the reconciliation of Dr. Akume and Fr. Alia.
However, experience shows that, none of the reconciliation efforts with Akume ever translated to peace. It was after the reconciliation efforts of 2011 that Akume fought Suswam, ensuring that he lost his senate bid to Senator Barnabas Gemade. In the aftermath of the 2018 reconciliation efforts, Akume again fought Ortom and ensured he lost his senate bid to Senator Titus Zam Whether the intervention of the paramount ruler this time will bring about lasting peace between Akume and Alia is what one waits anxiously to see as events unfold.