Benue leaders urge Mark to support Akume for Senate president

POLITICAL leaders from Benue State under the aegis of Benue Rebirth Initiative have appealed to the Senate President, David Mark, to support the candidature of Senator George Akume, for the Senate Presidency.

The group in a communiqué issued at the end of their inaugural meeting and signed by Architect Joe Ikyaagba and Sam Ode, said they have identified the key issues which have continued to drag the state backwards particularly at the national level where an average Benue man sees his fellow brother as an enemy and wished to appeal to all stakeholders to sheathe their swords and embrace unity and oneness of purpose.

Calling on Mark to take a clear stand on the senate presidency, the group also acknowledged the importance of Mark’s involvement in the campaign saying his presence will add value to the bid.

“We enjoined our brother who have walked this road before and has built the necessary bridges to enable his fellow brother continue.

“It is imperative that at this auspicious time where his silence means so much, we expect that he takes a definite stance just as he is not known to be one who sits on the fence.

“We sincerely wish to use this medium to affirm to Nigerians and the rest of Africa that the bitter tribal discord between the various ethnic components of Benue State has been buried through the concerted efforts of this group in honour of Akume’s detribalized and nationalistic posture,” the communique stated.

According to the group, Akume’s Senate Presidency will help to bring about rapid development of the North Central geo-political zone by the practical demonstration of Akume’s mass followership cutting across every stratum of the society and the expected collaboration with the incoming administration of the President-elect to deliver on the APC manifesto.

“We wish to throw our total support behind Senator George Akume, which is not only to confirm his ever green political image in the minds of the poor masses of Benue State but to reaffirm our commitment to the unity of purpose that the interest of Benue State must come before the selfish interest of a few minority in the land.

“We therefore wish to reiterate our unequivocal stand to drum our support behind his aspirations as rightly viewed by well meaning Nigerians who have without his consent toured and navigated every nook and cranny of the country to rally round behind our dear brother and leader of immense value.

“Nigerians have no doubt identified some genuine leadership qualities in Senator Akume to lead this very important arm of government in line with its developmental agenda and wish to call on all Benue sons and daughters irrespective of ethnic bloc in the spirit of true rebirth to continue to pray for this dream to become a reality in our national life and space as a people,” the statement added.