By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume has commenced consultations towards consensus building to implement the presidential directive on constitution of a Peace Committee to tackle insecurity in Benue State.

Senator Akume weekend undertook consultation visits to the two paramount rulers in the state, the Tor Tiv, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, and the Och’Idoma HRM Dr. John Odogbo, at their respective places in Makurdi and Otukpo.

Special Adviser to the SGF on Public Affairs, Terrence Kuanum in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi explained that the visits enabled Senator Akume “to fine-tune modalities for the speedy implementation of the directive by President Bola Tinubu which he gave during his condolence and solidarity visit to the state last Wednesday following the terrorist attack on Yelewata that resulted in over 200 deaths.”

The SGF in separate meeting with the monarchs announced their inclusion on the peace committee as directed by the President.

He harped on the need to “fasttrack the process of consensus building towards an all inclusive committee which will serve the desired purpose as envisaged by Mr. President to eradicate insecurity and restore peace to the state.”

According to him, “it is of grave concern to the President Tinubu that without peace, Benue is losing all of its comparative advantages majorly being its status as the agricultural hub and pivot of the food security drive of Nigeria.”

He expressed gratitude to the royal fathers for leading their subjects to welcome the President on the condolence and solidarity visit, and appealed to them to ensure that the traditional institution under their leadership was alive to its responsibility as custodians of the community level security base of the society, for Benue to be restored to her fast eroding glory.

Both the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma expressed their profound appreciation for the hand of assistance extended to the state by President Tinubu through his condolence and solidarity visit, and welcomed the initiative of the Peace Committee, which they pledged their total commitment to.

On the entourage of the SGF to the visits were Benue the APC State Chairman, Austin Agbada, Senator Dr. Jack Tilley-Gyado, Chief Akange Audu, Pharm. Patrick Ahenjir, Mrs. Becky Orpin, Pst. Terwase Orbunde, Prof. John Enyi, AVM Monday Morgan (retd) Chief Philip Agbese and Chief Mike Msuaan.

Others were, Major-General Harrison Adoga, Comrd. Abba Yaro, Dr. Philip Eche, Prince Simon Aóndona, Dr. Kaalu Akerkper, Tony Sende, Maureen Agbo and Benji Penda.