Akume and 30 Pieces of Silver

By Ati Terkula
Christians around the world are familiar with the story of Jesus’ betrayal by his own disciple, Judaism Ischariot, who went to the high priests in the middle of the night and betrayed his master for thirty pieces of silver and a kiss as the betrayal sign…
The story may be seen by many as another fable or folk tale however it is seen it’s import is never changing that the ones who you trust most are those who will someday betray you and many times for little stipends.
The Senate Minority Leader, Sen. George Akume, has become a Judas Ischariot of some sort as he has embarked on placing price tags on any and all the party’s tickets in the on going party primaries in the state, doling out party slots to the highest bidder.
Only on the 7th December 2014, a serving senator under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ), was sold a the a senate slot for the sum of Fifty Million Naira, even as the same senator had been Akume’s sworn enemy for the past sixteen years.
Akume whose party already had three contenders for the senate invited Senator Barnabas Gemade, who lost his party’s ticket to Governor Gabriel Suswam in the PDP, to come and attend his bazaar where the only requirement to the party hierarchy’s support was the highest bidder.
Gemade a wise businessman, aware of his auctioneer’s schemes did not decamp from
his party but stayed on in the PDP while Akume and his goons filled and submitted his form for him. The services and party ticket were signed, sealed and delivered to Gemade at the venue of the elections in Katsina-Ala, for the sum of 50 Million Naira
Same story played when the former minister of state for Trade and Investment, Chief Samuel Ortom, lost his acclaimed God ordained PDP ticket, to Suswam’s anointed, Rt. Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor. Immediately Tarzoor defeated Ortom, Akume got his act in place, sent his con spinners to invite Ortom who had previously made attempts to cross carpet.
A desperate Samuel Ortom, hurriedly jumped at the opportunity to actualise his self – professed God sent mission. For his sake the party’s primaries was postponed a day later to make space for his admission and proper behind the scene negotiations. Ortom a man known for his deep pocket is believed to have parted with a meagrely Seventy Million Naira to vouchsafe the party ticket.
Meanwhile, others like Hon. Herman Hembe had also played part in the Akume party auction and consequently won against a female House of Assembly, aspirant, Mrs. Dorathy Mato who was the preferred candidate in the kangaroo election held in his wife’s hotel.
But like the biblical Judas Ischariot, Sen. Akume may not get the opportunity to spend these thirty bags of silver as his party will soon go extinct and he may lose relevance.