The Benue Progressives Forum for Good Governance has alleged that the grand reception recently organised for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja was a launching pad for the SGF, preparatory to his bid to run for the 2027 presidential elections.

The group also stated that it was one of the major reasons why Senator Akume has allegedly been trying to undo other politicians in the North-Central geopolitical zone, particularly, Benue State, so as to emerge as the sole candidate from the zone, come 2027.

The group, which disclosed this during a press conference held in Makurdi on Monday, also said it was for this reason that “We gathered that Senator Akume sold to Kogi state the second ministerial slot the President (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) had promised the people of the state”.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the group, Terver Fave Joseph, and Secretary, Ocheme Pius, who took turns to clarify issues observed that the SGF commenced efforts at pulling together resources to execute his plans, including to undo others to clear the coast for his emergence.

“It has also been discovered that Senator George Akume is planning to contest the 2027 presidential election and that is why he mobilized his allies to convince North-Central leaders to organize a grand reception for him as SGF. He wants to exert his influence in North-Central Nigeria in such a way that most of the leaders in the zone will be loyal to him.

“Senator Akume has started recruiting his men and he is looking for resources ahead of the 2027 presidential elections and this is why he was hosted by North-Central Governors and other leaders.

“This is the ambition he started nursing before the 2023 general elections and by supporting Fr. Alia to win the governorship seat in the state, he thought that Rev. Fr. Alia would open the treasury of Benue state to him so that he would get enough resources to contest the election,” he stated.

The group, however, explained that knowing the antecedents of Senator Akume, who is a former Governor of Benue State, that he does not have the state at heart, they saw the need for President Bola Tinubu to call him to order for towing this line.

“This is the antecedent of the man called George Akume, who does not have the interest of Benue people at heart but only thinks of his personal gains. This action by the SGF is dangerous and there is a need to call him to order before his actions will flare into conflagration.

“Immediately after the election, Fr. Alia told him that he was a priest and that his intention was to serve and provide good governance to the people of Benue State, and for that reason, he could not make available the resources of the state to him.

“It can be recalled that the immediate past governor of Benue State, Mr. Ortom accused Akume of demanding so much money from him to the detriment of the state; the development which made Mr. Ortom defect to the PDP before the 2019 general elections,” it said.