Rita Odafe
Terrence Kuanum, the Special Adviser to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has addressed recent remarks made by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia concerning the state’s security issues.
In a segment aired on Channels Television last Friday, Governor Alia criticized Akume and his associates for their lack of response to the escalating security concerns in Benue.
Akume was the governor of Benue from 1999 to 2007.
The governor stated that an initial report from a judicial panel he established named politicians in Abuja and the national assembly as being involved in orchestrating violence in Benue.
While Alia did not specify the individuals involved, he remarked that the report will be released to the public by Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week.
Kuanum, in a statement on Saturday, asserted that Akume has been proactively addressing the security issues in Benue and continuously informs President Bola Tinubu about these matters.
He suggested that the governor either misunderstands governmental processes or is intentionally trying to sway public opinion by insisting Akume should address the media concerning the state’s security.
Kuanum urged Alia to formally submit the names mentioned in the report to President Tinubu and the federal security council.
“If the Governor of Benue State expects the SGF to publicly discuss his efforts in the media, it reveals either a misunderstanding of governmental practices or a deliberate attempt to sway public sentiment against the SGF,” the statement indicated.
“As a member of the Federal Security Council, Governor Hyacinth Alia is fully aware of the functioning of the Federal Executive Council, and how security measures, of which the SGF plays a crucial role, have been initiated to address insecurity issues in Benue and other regions.
“It is also essential to remind the Governor that those he labels as the SGF’s allies in Abuja, especially the National Assembly members, have been actively advocating for greater attention to insecurity in Benue.
“Senators Titus Zam and Emmanuel Udende, along with other House of Representatives members from Benue, have continually raised concerns about attacks, killings, and kidnappings by suspected herdsmen, bandits, and terrorists in the National Assembly.
“The efforts of Benue’s lawmakers have led to various motions that have garnered the attention of the Federal Executive Council.
“Due to his official capacity, the SGF can contribute more effectively to combatting insecurity in Nigeria than if he were engaging directly in public discussions about his role in this matter.
“With respect to the allegations from the Governor regarding his Panel of Inquiry’s findings, it’s important to recognize that such reports undergo several vetting stages and must be formalized into a White Paper before being regarded as an official government stance.
“However, since the Governor has opted to reveal this matter publicly before completing formal procedures, we encourage him to follow through and disclose those responsible for exacerbating insecurity in his state.
“The Governor must understand that his accusations and premature identifications of those implicated are serious national security issues and should be approached as such.
“He should forward the names of those implicated, along with their involvement in promoting insecurity in Benue, to the President and the Federal Security Council, and publicly disclose who the adversaries of Benue State are,” he concluded.
