* He’ll deliver, Nigeria is going to be proud – Gov Alia
* He’s the beam light of govt in policy formulation – Boss Mustapha
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
The newly sworn-in Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume has promised that he not disappoint Nigerians, the President and the country in discharging his responsibility in line with the oath he took Wednesday during the inauguration by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking with State House Correspondents after the inauguration, said he was elated to serve in this exalted position out of over 200 million Nigerians.
According to him, it’s a challenge, a challenge to serve in line with the oath I have taken today (a few minutes ago), assuring Nigerians that he will do his best.
“I am elated to serve in this exalted position out of over 200 million Nigerians. It’s a challenge, a challenge to serve in line with the oath I have taken today, a few minutes ago. I assured Nigerians I will do my best, I will not disappoint the president, I will not disappoint this country, I will not disappoint my party. I believe Nigerians will find fulfilment in my responsibilities as I discharge them.
“I say it isan honour to serve your country, it’s a sign of joy and strongly persuaded that by the grace of almighty God I will do my best; and Nigerians will really have to reap the dividends of democracy.
“I am someone who has been on the scene for quite some time. And you know the man we are serving as president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we just have to follow his footsteps. He has never been in the gallery you know, the galleries according to resonate are full of critics. He has always been in the arena, down in the arena, are the doers. He’s always the doer. And so we have to tag along, we must never afford to fail. Thank you very much,” the AGF said.
Reacting to the appointment, the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, said the appointment of Senator Akume is quite enormous, adding that “It’s a factor of exaltation out of the many states Benue is chosen.”
The governor said, “it’s one of our sons, whom we’re all proud of, we know his requisite. We know what he has offered in the past many, many decades, for the state and for the nation.”
Governor Alia expressed optimism that they “are very confident, too confident that he is also going to deliver and the nation is going to be proud that our choice man from the States is selected and sworn in for this great job.”
Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said Akume has the requisite experience to coordinate the affaisrs of the office.
Mustapha said he has no doubt the former Benue governor is prepared for the job, recalling that he had worked as director of protocol in the Government House of Benue state under the
leadership of Reverend Father (Moses) Adasu.
He explained that “the most important part of this office is the fact that he is the beam light of the government in terms of driving, coordination and policy formulation, so it’s enormous.”
“He has come a long way, is garnered a lot of experience, both as an administrator as a legislator, as a minister, in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. So I have no doubt that he’s prepared for the job, but he’s definitely going to succeed.
On what advise he will give Akume as his predecessor, Mustapha said, “well, this is a tough job. I wouldn’t want to mince words about it is extremely important office in terms of coordination of government activities, and also stringent government policies, programs and projects, it is his responsibility to guide the government.
“So there’s a nomity. Under his office, we used to have seven Permanent Secretaries but it’s now reduced to six. So it’s a combination of almost six ministries in one office that will be reported to him with different agencies. It’s not a small job, but I’m confident that he has been ably prepared, groomed for this job, and I believe that he will take the office a notch higher while leaving it.”
