The North-Central All Progressives (APC) Forum has distanced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from blame on the alleged lopsided appointments of government functionaries from the zone.
The forum led by Saleh Zazzaga, in a statement, Monday heaped the blame on the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Sen George Akume, for the alleged infraction.
Threatening to release evidence to prove its allegation of lopsided appointments against Akume, the forum said it is unfortunate that he has chosen to engage in a media war, rather than heed its advise to adjust his approach to leadership and carry the entire North-Central along.
The forum noted that it decided not to release full details of the alleged lopsided appointments due to the respect it has for Akume, it threatened to release all the available evidence at its disposal to buttress its position.
The Forum insisted that it is not sponsored by anybody or any group for its agitations on the development of the North-Central region.
“We have immense respect for the Senator Akume, who we consider as our father but we are also duty bound, as stakeholders of the North-Central, to speak out when things are not going right, as is the case in this instance,” it noted.
“Instead of using proxies to come to the media to defend himself and also attack the North-Central APC Forum, as he is doing, we expect the SGF, as a leader, to heed the call and adjust accordingly.
“Senator George Akume should not take this issue personal. It is not about any individual, rather it is about the interests and progress of the North-Central region and the All Progressives Congress.”
“We are not blackmailing the SGF, and we are not being sponsored by anybody or any group. We have evidence to show that the allegation that the SGF is making lopsided appointments is not baseless, as his spokespersons claimed.
“Also, the North-Central APC Forum is not asking for appointments for its members, as claimed by the SGF’s supporters. We, as stakeholders, are asking that the SGF, as the leader of the party in the zone, should extend appointments to all sections of the North-Central, and not limit such opportunities to his Tiv people of Benue State.”
