President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Senator George Akume as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Guardian reports that Akume in a brief ceremony on Wednesday which had dignitaries including some serving and former Governors in attendance took his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office inside the Council Chambers of the Villa.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. FolasadeYemi-Esan and the spouse of the new SGF, Mrs Regina Akume were also among top officials present.
Tinubu had last Friday in a statement signed by the State House spokesman, Abiodun Oladunjoye announced the appointment of the former Benue State governor and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, Akume as the SGF.
On the same day, the President also announced the appointment of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the Chief of Staff.
In a meeting with the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Tinubu equally appointed Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as the Deputy Chief of Staff.
Akume’s duty as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation commences with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the Tor Tiv Orcivirigh, Professor James Ortese Ayatse on Tuesday expressed appreciation and gratitude to Tinubu for finding Akume worthy of the noble appointment as the SGF.
The royal father described the development as reconnecting Benue state and Tiv nation in particular to the mainstream politics in Nigeria.
Akume, 70, was Governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007.
Following his tenure as Governor, he was elected as Senator representing Benue North West in 2007.
Akume was re-elected in 2011 and 2015, demonstrating the trust reposed in him by his constituents.
During his term in the Senate, Akume served as Minority Leader from June 2011 to June 2015.
Prior to his political career, Akume started work as a civil servant in the Benue State Civil Service in 1979 as a Land Officer.
Over the years, he held various positions in both the State and Federal governments, retiring voluntarily as a Federal Permanent Secretary, Establishments, and Management Services, in 1998.
According to The Nation, speaking to journalists after the ceremony, the new SGF promised not to disappoint Nigerians, noting that he had been very privileged to have been selected out of millions of citizens to serve the nation in that capacity.
“To have been selected to serve in this exalted position out of over 200 million Nigerians, it is a challenge to serve in line with the oath I have taken today. I assure Nigerians I will do my best, I will not disappoint the President, I will not disappoint this country and I will not disappoint my party.
“I believe, Nigerians will find fulfillment in my responsibilities as I discharge that in their own interest. It is an honour to serve the country and I am strongly persuaded that guided by Almighty God, I will do my best and Nigerians will really have to reap the dividends of democracy,” he said.
The SGF noted his wealth of experience will be brought to bear as he begins his work, adding that he will follow the footsteps of President Bola Tinubu.
“I am someone who has been on the scene for quite some time and I know the man we are serving, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President and we just have to follow his footsteps. He has never been in the gallery, where is always full of critics. He has always been in the arena, where the doers are. He is a doer, so we have to tag along. We must never afford to fail,” Akume said.
