Senator George Akume is a name that is not new to Nigerians, especially those who have been following Nigerian politics in the last two decades. The former Governor of Benue State was recently appointed as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by President Muhammadu Buhari, a position that has put him in the spotlight once again.
Akume was born in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State on December 27th, 1953. He attended Nigerian Military School, Zaria and graduated in 1972 before gaining admission to the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1974. He later attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1979, and a Master of Public Administration degree in 1980.
He began his political career in 1999 when he was elected Governor of Benue State, a position he held for two terms until 2007. During his tenure, he implemented policies and programmes that were aimed at addressing the developmental challenges facing the state.
Akume’s political career took a new turn in 2007 when he was elected to represent Benue Northwest Senatorial district in the Senate. He was re-elected in 2011 and 2015, making him one of the longest-serving Senators in the National Assembly.
The new SGF has had a fair share of criticisms and controversies in his political career. In 2013, he was accused of abandoning his constituents during the devastating floods that ravaged parts of Benue State. There were also reports of a rift between him and his successor, Gabriel Suswam, who he accused of squandering the resources of the state.
Despite these controversies, Akume has remained an influential figure in Nigerian politics. His appointment as SGF by President Buhari is seen by many as a reward for his loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and his contributions to the party’s success in the 2019 general elections.
As he takes on his new role as SGF, many Nigerians are hoping that Senator Akume will bring his wealth of experience and expertise to bear in the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at addressing the various challenges facing the country.
