By Amos Aar
THE PARAMOUNT ruler of the Tiv people of Benue State, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Ayatse, has waded into the lingering dispute between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and his estranged godson and Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and may have succeeded in reconciling them.
It has been battle of wits between Akume and Alia since his inauguration as governor on May 29, 2023 over perceived power tussle, with the disagreement becoming public knowledge during the inauguration of the Benue State House of Assembly when Akume and Governor Alia backed different candidates for the speakership.
The governor eventually trumped his godfather when his candidate, the current speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh (Gboko West state constituency), defeated Akume’s candidate, Hon. Becky Orpin (Gboko East state constituency) with 17 votes to 15 in a second ballot after the tied 16 all in the first ballot.
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The Tor Tiv during a reconciliatory meeting on Monday in his palace in Gboko urged the duo to embrace each other to put their differences aside and allow peace to reign for the unity and development of the state.
In a viral video of the symbolic embrace accessed by National Record on Monday, the Tor Tiv said: “…put aside whatever differences in the past and work together smoothly as it used to be as senior brother and younger brother representing Benue; the Governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“As a sign that they have agreed, they will shake themselves and embrace themselves according to the tradition”, Tor Tiv moderated.
Following the Tor Tiv’s comments, Akume and Alia shook hands warmly and hugged themselves heart to heart with smiles.
Although this is not the first time the godfather shook hands with his godson as a sign of their reconciliation, National Record observed that this time around as both parties smiled at each other when they embraced themselves.
The first time Akume and Alia had a reconciliatory handshake was on December 26, 2023 at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi during a colloquium/symposium organised in honour of the SGF as part of activities marking his 70th birthday anniversary and homecoming since his appointment in June, 2023.
At that occasion, both Akume and Alia were tight-lipped with their faces visibly stern, unlike the smiles that they wore this time around.
The governor had, in his address at the colloquium, poured encomiums on the SGF describing him as the cradle of the 4th Republic.
