AS Nigerians anticipate the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) judgement, indications emerged on Wednesday that George Akume, Secretary to the Federal Government has been flown abroad, ENigeria Newspaper reports.
George Akume 69, from Benue state, was sworn in as Secretary to the Federal Government on ………………….along with Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff to the President.
ENigeria Newspaper reports that Akume who is rumoured to be at rancor with Gbajabiamila had reportedly fallen ill and was flown to abroad for urgent medical attention.
According to Saharareporters, top presidential sources revealed that Akume, a former Benue State governor, was flown to Germany and had been in the European country for five days.
“Tinubu’s SGF is presently ill and is out of the country. He has been flown to Germany for urgent medical care. He’s been there for five days now,” one of the top sources confirmed to SaharaReporters on Wednesday morning.
According to SaharaReporters the 69-year-old Akume has not handled official assignments recently and has been represented by officials on various occasions.
On Tuesday, Akume was represented by Permanent Secretary, Special Services, OSGF, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi at the graduation for participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 31, in Abuja.
Shinkafi delivered a lecture on Akume’s behalf at the event.
The lecture, which had the theme, “Economic Growth and Regional Development: Strategic Options for Africa”, was part of activities lined up by the college for the graduation of its Course 31 participants but the SGF was unavoidably absent.
Akume through Shinkafi noted that the African region and Nigeria, in particular, must do everything possible to ensure political and economic stability.
This, he noted, would help to gain the confidence of investors for sustainable regional development.
He identified income inequality, environmental impact, and resource allocation, vulnerability to global economic and political instability as major challenges to economic growth at national levels.
Akume served as minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2023.
As a Senator, he represented Benue North-West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2019.
He was also the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015.
Source: ENigeria Newspaper
