Today in Benue state, there is a mood of celebration of joy over the peaceful, fair, just and transparent state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The doomsayers and their disciples had, prior to the event which was held at the state capital, Makurdi, predicted that the APC was about to implode due to the seeming grievances and acrimonies that would palpably arise from the exercise. But the doomsayers has forgotten too soon that the leader of the party in the state who is man of impeccable leadership acumen has demonstrated in clear terms and in many instances that he would never superintends over a failed exercise.
If there was any reason to be deduced for the peaceful and comradeship atmosphere before and after the Benue state congress of the APC, it boils down to the leadership of Senator George Akume, who we can say ignited the exercise with his leadership.
With the peaceful conduct of the state congress of the APC, held in Makurdi on the 16th of October, 2021, Senator Akume has been applauded for rising to the occasion to show that he is indeed a visionary leader, a political pathfinder and a rare mentor of the members of the party through his well known leadership attributes of exceptional capabilities in all aspects of the human endeavours he has been involved in, particularly his political leadership. He has shown with his leadership that has led to this rancour free exercise that he is the true leader of the APC in Benue state today and in the years to come.
This achievements by Senator George Akume is not new because even in Benue today, the failure of the Ortom-led administration has left no one in doubt that Senator Akume, after he left the governance of the state with impeccable records after setting the right templates for the economic growth and stability which the people are crying today that the Ortom’s administration has destroyed.
The peaceful, just and transparent state congress of the APC has shown once again that Senator Akume is working hard for the victory of the party in the next general elections in the state.
Senator Akume, with this peaceful exercise, have left no one in doubt that he is a rare gem of a leader, a nationalist and a detribalised leader who is contributing in no small measure to the socio-political and economic growth of the state and Nigeria in general.
The just and transparent congress of Benue state has also gone to show that Akume is indeed the rallying point and stabilizing factor for the Benue APC’s current stabilised dispensation and as a pathfinder, he is charting the development trajectory of modern Benue state through the APC’s resurgence and raising the bar of the APC’s intra party political and public service in the state.
A cheerful leader who cares about the welfare of the people and believes power in a democratic setting should emanate from the people and must not be forced on them as typified by the recent state congress in Benue state where the people were allowed to peacefully elect their leaders.
It was really a magical moment for the APC by the leadership shown by Senator Akume by his insistence that he will not impose his preferred candidates on the party. This is a rapid departure from the system been practiced in other parties where leaders are imposed by godfather who endorsed candidates down the throat of members.
He believes in the impartiality and transparency of intra party processes. He has been a leader who preaches and seeks a free, fair and transparent process in which the candidate who emerges are the once who garner the most support among the party’s rank and file. Only in this manner, he has consistently believed do the party prepares itself for the contest ahead.
Akume believes the integrity of the state congress is of the highest priority for the APC and all efforts must be geared towards the realisation of a free, fair and transparent process.
To this end, the party officials were obligated to establish the necessary arrangements to ensure orderly, peaceful, free and fair congress by the leader.
It was fair to say that today Benue state is regarded as one of the states where the APC congress of the state was generally regarded as peaceful, just and transparent all because of the leadership shown by Akume.
The state APC adopted generally the consensus in electing their new state working committees, SWC. Many are today applauding the leadership of the party in the state led by Senator Akume for the hitch free state congress, noting that the peaceful conduct of the election manifested the good leadership ingrained in the party by the state leader, senator Akume.
The free and fair congresses has given the party the needed boost and hope in consolidating the progresses recorded under the outgoing party leadership in the state led by Chief Abbah Yaro and the promised to set the party on higher pedestals.
Today, all hands are on deck, as this is a crucial moment in the APC political endeavours. Akume must be commended for fulfilling his avowed decision to let the people drive the process of electing its party officials in line with the philosophy and constitution of the APC. He did this deliberately as sign to show that he is really a democrat of undisputed repute. The consensus option was not forced on members and it must be placed on record, as it was agreed through dialogue that birthed the peaceful and transparent Benue state APC congress and this has made the party more stronger beaming with hope and confidence for the future.
For those who are aggrieved, as it is natural in politics because of interest, Senator Akume acknowledged their rights to be aggrieved and he has noted that they are our people that needs to be heard and as brothers they would lay all their differences to rest in the coming days and move on. As we speak, because of Akume’s assurances to the aggrieved, they are reaching out to the leader of the party and the internal matter would be resolved through the institution of an internal mechanism to address the differences that arose from the congress and aggrieved members are advised to take advantage of them to build a strong and united APC in Benue state.
At the end of the congress and through the leadership of senator Akume, produced a generally acceptable and credible leadership that would build a strong and virile Benue state chapter of the APC under the leadership of Mr Austin Agada.
– Musa Wada writes from Abuja.
