Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, says he has no plans to run for elective office in his lifetime.
Senator Akume stated that he is getting older and will step down from office and political contestation at the end of his tenure as SGF.
The former Benue State Governor clarified Tuesday while speaking at a colloquium/symposium organised to commemorate his 70th birthday anniversary in Makurdi.
Senator Akume, reacting to an earlier speech by Alhaji Ibrahim Turaki, former governor of Jigawa State, said,
“I have no ambition to run for election again.”
“In 2031, I will be 78, no more. I have been a two-term Governor, Senator for two terms, Minister and now Secretary to the Government of the Federation; So no more.”
The SGF, who thanked President Bola Tinubu for considering him for a position on his team, assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration would make a significant difference in their lives.
He stated that President Tinubu inherited a difficult situation but was fully prepared to face the challenge.
Akume added,
“He has initiated programmes and policies that will have an impact on Nigerians’ lives. Let us be patient.”
He assured that the government was doing everything possible to reduce poverty to the bare minimum, emphasising that “the government was inaugurated for 48 months, but we have only done about seven months, and we still have a long way to go, but I can assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that will be soon”
“The future is bright, there is renewed hope. Our tomorrow will be better than today I can assure you that. Nations are great because the citizenry believes that tomorrow will be better than today.”
While urging Nigerians to be united in their diversity, Senator Akume pointed out that “countries like America are great because of their diversity” advising that Nigerians harness their diversity for sustainable growth and development.