Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, senator George Akume has denied insinuations emanating from certain quarters that he has a beef with governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia.
Akume who spoke during the weekend in Gboko at the burial of an elder statesman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Chief Haar Orpin noted that more people of the state will benefit if himself and the governor works in synergy and emphasized the need for the people to support both of them to succeed.
The SGF represented by Chief Simon Shango, acknowledged that the deceased Chief Haar Orpin who until his demise was a member of the APC elders forum stood by him throughout his life time, lamenting that his wise counsel would be greatly missed and prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.
In his remarks the Benue governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia expressed happiness over the SGFs declaration that there was no crisis between them and assured that he would continue to work in harmony with the SGF for the progress of the state.
The governor who described the late elder statesman Chief Orpin as a unifier and devault Christian who lived a life of peace, said his disposition provided direction to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as well as fostered unity in his immediate community of Jemgbagh, acknowledging that his posture of operating an open door policy government is part of his wise counsel.
Governor Alia who assured the people that he was working in synergy with the SGF and other political leaders in the state to ensure speedy development of the state, said his doors were open for anyone willing to key into the Benue agenda for the purpose of developing the state irrespective of political affiliations and called for support.
Also speaking Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Prof Joseph Utsev announced that the federal government has commenced plans for the dredging of river Benue with the formation of a committee which will soon submit its report for appropriate action.
He said dredging river Benue will end perennial flooding in the state, create job opportunities for Benue youths as well as boost marine economy of the state.
The minister of Water Resources and Sanitation equally condemned the practice of insulting Benue leaders on social media by some youths , noting that such a practice has given a bad name to the entire state and appealed that youths should always channel there problems to leaders for appropriate action rather resulting to insults.
He described the deceased Chief Haar Orpin as a father that stood for peace and development of the state and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
