From: Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ortese Ayatse, on Thursday, tasked his subjects around the world to unite and ensure peaceful co-existence wherever they are for the progress of the Tiv nation and Nigeria, in general.
The Tiv paramount ruler made the appeal when a delegation of the Tiv people of Taraba State extraction led by their President, Chief Goodman Dahida, paid him a royal visit at his palace in Gboko, Benue State.
The Tor Tiv who said his ascension to the throne was divinely ordained pledged to do everything possible to reposition the Tiv nation to the path of progress.
“My agenda is to reposition the Tiv nation. Wherever I hear my children’s cry I will go there and ask relevant questions. But I can’t succeed if you are not united, so I urge you to do everything to remain united. If you are united Nigeria will listen to us, but without unity we can’t do anything meaningful.
“Some events in the past have placed the Tiv in many states outside of Benue, including Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, FCT and so many other locations within Nigeria and in the neighbouring Cameroon, and nobody can say Tiv people are settlers in these areas.
“We have the Yorubas in Kwara and Kogi states and they are not being treated as settlers. So, I challenge you to legally and democratically ask for your rights and privileges as indigenes of Taraba. Taraba is your home and not Benue, so contribute your quota to the development of Taraba,” he said.
The royal father said he will soon visit the Aku Uka of Wukari in Taraba and the Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State as well as Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba to dialogue with them to ensure a peaceful environment for his subjects.
Earlier, the President-General, Tiv Cultural and Social Association Taraba State, Chief Goodman Dahida, congratulated the Tor Tiv on his ascension to the throne and pledged the loyalty and support of the Tiv people of Taraba to the Tor Tiv.
He appealed to the Tor Tiv to build a strong relationship with the Aku Uka of Wukari and the Emir of Muri in Taraba as well as assist in enlightening his subjects living on the border with Taraba to accept the outcome of the pending border line which will soon be unveiled by the technical committees of Benue and Taraba in the interest of peace and development.
Dahida also appealed to His Majesty to write a commendation letter to the governors of Benue and Taraba for their strong stance for peace and for enacting the Anti Open Grazing Law, adding which according to him will put an end to incessant herdsmen attacks, adding that such commendation will spur them to ensure full implementation of the law.