CONDEMNATION TRAILS ZAPA ATTACK ON AKUME- Sam Adzege

CONDEMNATION TRAILS ZAPA ATTACK ON AKUME - Sam Adzege

Widespread condemnation has greeted efforts to denigrate Nigeria's SGF, Senator George Akume by one organization which calls itself 'Zone A People's Assembly'. In a statement purportedly issued at a press conference held August 24, 2023, ZAPA had accused Akume of promoting the interests of his Jemgbagh place of birth against those of other parts of the State. The group also accused the SGF of harbouring an agenda to destabilize the administration of Rev Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Governor of Benue State. For these, ZAPA called on the Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse to "call Akume to order".

Within hours of its publication however, the ZAPA statement attracted vitriolic attacks from several quarters, with one of the earliest coming from the Jemgbagh Media Forum, JMF.

In a statement titled "That meaningless blackmail of the SGF by ZAPA", dated August 16, 2023 and signed by Honourable Sam Adzegeh, its President, the Forum wrote:

"It has been brought to our attention the contents of a press statement purportedly issued by a nebulous organization which calls itself 'Zone A People's Assembly, ZAPA'. 

"The text supposedly emanates from a press conference said to have been held in Makurdi on August 24, 2023. Venue of the 'press conference' is however, not mentioned. Signatures of the "Authors" of the text of the press conference are also conveniently missing on the said document. Curiously however, names of some prominent politicians from the Sankera axis of Benue State (Gabriel Suswam, Terkimbi Ikyange) are listed as authors of the piece, obviously in a vainglorious effort to confer some modicum of respectability on the document.

"Taken together, the contents of the ZAPA press statement deserve absolutely no response, for it is clearly the handiwork of some rabble rousers seeking to call attention to themselves through a nebulous letter addressed to His Royal Highness, the Begha u Tiv, Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse. The letter accuses the SGF of "consciously only concentrating his loyalties to Jemgbagh, the micro community where he comes from and not the larger Tiv race or even Benue state where he is the highest appointee of government as it were". It calls on the Tor Tiv to call Sen. George Akume to order.

Childishly, the statement engages in spurious futuristic speculations about the SGF 'scheming' to destabilize and finally oust Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia as Governor of Benue State. Even more peevishly, the statement concluded: 'We have no reason to disbelieve these feelers and stories from the grapevine because Akume has verifiable bona fides and credentials in fighting and destroying Tiv sons who have risen to stardom.'

"As ludicrous as the ZAPA statement may sound, it brings to mind the sad reality that some unscrupulous persons are still actively engaged in the 'pull-him-down syndrome's which has for decades gone past caused the economic retardation of the Tiv nation and Benue State generally.

"The ZAPA statement further exposes the macabre plot by anti-Tiv elements to continue the orchestration of their 'effective minority' agenda by seeking to bring down any highly placed official from the Tiv nation. Unfortunately, this plotters appear to have found a few misled opportunists among Tiv folk.

"It is pertinent to note that, since his advent on the Benue/national political firmament, the generous and developmental activities of Senator George Akume the SGF have been focussed on promoting the best hands from Benue State and the Tiv nation. In spite of serial disappointments from several persons he personally and single handedly promoted out of political obscurity, the SGF remains focussed on elevating Benue State and the middle belt to its deserved position in the nation.

"The elements in ZAPA and their sponsors from whatever pits of hell may recall that only recently, lofty national positions were held by several persons from other zones, but no whimper was heard from ZAPA or any other association. At a time in our very recent history, when Sen. Gabriel Torwua Suswam was Benue Governor, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) was Minister of Justice and Dr. Paul Orhii was NAFDAC boss; Mrs. Mzamber Farida Waziri was EFCC Chairman even as Mr. Robert Orya was MD NEXIM Bank. They were all from Zone A.

"ZAPA and its co-travellers on the road to infamy must be warned that there is a new emerging consciousness among the people of the middle belt which seeks to promote deserving people from the area to the highest heights in the Nigerian equation and thus spearhead a rebirth of the region. It is a deliberate and conscious mass movement that will not be stopped. 

"We advise ZAPA and all other groups with a contrary agenda to desist or be consumed in the coming revolution. The SGF must be given much needed support and the latitude to navigate his position the best way the good Lord directs him.

"Lastly, we strongly advise that the institution of the Tor Tiv is a neutral entity which presides over more than ten million Tiv people world wide and must be accorded due respect. The Tor Tiv must be insulated against any parochial political manipulation and rather be recognized as father to all Tiv people all over the world."

In its reaction titled "ZAPA, a Pseudo group created to foment trouble and mischief", the Tiv Youth Council Worldwide, via a statement signed by its President Hon. Mike Msuaan (MON, FIMC) described ZAPA as an association which aims solely to cause disaffection between the people of Benue North East and the SGF as well as other zones in the state. 

According to Hon. Msuaan, ZAPA does not speak for the enlightened and politically sophisticated people of Zone- A. Msuaan recalled that Sen. Akume has been the target of blackmail and other provocative propaganda of ZAPA since its formation. 

"Sometime in 2021, this group of miscreants authored a negative press release calculated to demean Sen. Akume, then Minster of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs," Msuaan pointed out, adding that "the wild allegations  hurled at the SGF are figments of the imagination of ZAPA and its sponsors. Their intention as usual is to blackmail the SGF and distract him from his responsibility as the chief scribe of the nation."

He warned that the organization "will not fold its arms and watch mischief makers foment trouble and cause division amongst prominent Tiv sons and blocs in the state."