A group christened ‘North Central Equity and Justice Coalition’ has alleged that federal key appointments meant for the North-Central are skewed in favour of Tiv tribes in Benue State.
The group, in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, signed by its leader, former Commissioner of Information in Plateau State, Hon. Dan Manjang, made available to the Nigerian Tribune, pointed out that other states within the zone are shortchanged, adding that a cursory look at the appointments made so far favours the kinsmen of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
In the open letter to the President, Hon. Manjang said the appointments so far have been limited to Jemgbagh to the detriment of others.
Part of the letter read, “The North Central Equity and Justice Coalition hereby passes a vote of no confidence in Senator George Akume, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
“This declaration is driven by our collective dismay over his continuous neglect of the North Central’s broader interests.
“Since assuming office, Senator Akume has limiting key opportunities to his home state, Benue, and predominantly favouring his Tiv kinsmen, especially his Jemgbagh clan. By prioritising personal and ethnic interests over regional welfare, he has alienated the North Central region that looked up to him for genuine representation and inclusive leadership.”
The letter further depicted that Akume’s leadership has been disappointing not only for the North Central states beyond Benue but even within his own state, where he has marginalised ethnic minorities.
“His disregard for the Abakpa, Akweya, Etulo, Idoma, Igede, Jukun, and Nyifon, for instance, exemplifies the narrowness of his focus and his tendency to favour only a select few at the expense of the greater good.
“One glaring example of this imbalance is the management of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, which has long been dominated by Benue natives, particularly Tiv individuals over time, as a result of Akume’s influence as Governor and Senator, and now SGF has ensured that since its inception in 1977, the position of Managing Director has predominantly been filled by Tiv people from Benue State.”
The letter listed all past leadership of the basin authority, which had been dominated by people of Benue state extraction.
However, several calls put across to the SGF for his reaction were to no avail and no reply as of the time of filling out this report.
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