Advise SGF to unite Tivland — Group

A Tiv group, known as ‘Zone A Peoples’ Assembly’ (ZAPA), has called on the Tiv royal father, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Ayatse, to appeal to his illustrious sons to use their position to unite the Tiv nation

The group, however, called on the Tiv paramount ruler to intervene so as not to cause division in Tivland.

The group led by its president, Mr Fannen Mondo lamented the lopsidedness in the recent political appointments given to the state, allegedly orchestrated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

The group noted that all the appointments were restricted to a section of Tivland, Jemgbah, where the SGF hails from.

Mondo, specifically cited the recent ministerial appointment and Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Center, Makurdi which were given to people of the SGF micro zoning axis, the Jemgbah.

For political convenience, the Tiv nation of Benue State has five intermediaries; Kwande, Sankera, Jechira, Jemgbah and Minda axes in which political offices are shared.

Mondo, who addressed newsmen in Makurdi on Monday, said, “Let it be stated for the avoidance of doubt that Akume is an illustrious son of Tiv land who has done so much for Benue and for himself as an individual.

But like Shakespeare said, “The fault is not in our stars but in ourselves”. So Akume, like every human being, has his faults. And it is not good for him to allow his faults to override the good and to abuse the grace that God has given him.

“We want to state clearly that Akume is not showing good leadership and statecraft in the moves he has made in the recent past.

It is now crystal clear that he is consciously only concentrating his loyalties on Jemgbagh, the micro-community where he comes from, and not the larger Tiv race or even Benue State, where he is the highest appointee of government, as it were.

“Some pointers to this fact clearly manifest in the skewed ministerial appointment he masterminded to his Jemgbagh clan in contradistinction to the age-long Tiv principle of ya na angbian (eat and give your brother)

“This principle ensures the spread of spoils and appointments to all sections of society to ensure equity. It is only appropriate that since Akume himself is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, micro-zoning or taking the ministerial slot still to his native Jemgbagh is, in good conscience, not the right thing to do, and it’s totally out of the way.

“More saddening is the fact that this is the same Akume who, throughout his tenure as Governor of Benue State, saw no other section of Tivland worth the ministerial slot except Jemgbagh.

“Furthermore, Akume, in pursuit of his narrow Jemgbagh agenda, ostensibly robbed the people of Lobi of what was due to one of their sons by out-scheming and setting aside merit to deny Dr Stephen Hwande, a thoroughbred professional, the position of Chief Medical Director (CMD) in favour of his Jemgbagh clansman.

The group, however, called on the royal father, the Tor Tiv, to intervene and called Senator Akume to order.

“It is our earnest belief that providence crowned you King over the Tiv people for you to serve and lead with dignity and honour and to bring progress and prosperity to the entire Tiv race.

“We know and believe that in steering the ship of state and the Tiv nation, it is within your powers and graces as duly conferred to intervene when matters are going bad between or among communities and even personalities across Tiv land,” Mondo said.

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