New Tor Tiv calls for Tiv inclusion in Buhari administration

THE new  Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Ayatse, has appealed to the Federal Government for inclusion of Tiv people in the present administration.

He made the appeal at his coronation, on Saturday, at the JS Tarka Stadium in Gboko, Benue State.

He called on government to involve Tiv people in empowerment programmes that would facilitate agricultural input and food production.

In line with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who canvassed for God-fearing persons, who would swear by the Bible to mount the Tiv stool, the Tor Tiv, while taking the oath of office, swore by the Bible.

He promised  to carry out reforms to rebuild and restructure the Tiv nation within the next five years.

According to him, “I’m ascending the throne at a very difficult time in the history of the Tiv nation, where there are many challenges such as insecurity, erosion of cultural values and tradition, leadership crises, marginalisation, unwholesome political practices, among others.”

The four cardinal focus of his early reign, he said,  included reaffirming the kingship and Lordship of God over Tiv nation; reemphasising the Tiv identity; reinforcing Tiv unity and oneness; and to reestablish Tiv security and welfare.

Governor Ortom,  in his speech, promised to collaborate with the traditional institution for the benefit of the state, saying, “the recent appointment of first class by our administration in intermediate areas of the state is a demonstration of our commitment to deepening the role of royal fathers in the state.”

The governor appealed to Tiv sons and daughters to support the new Tor Tiv with useful ideas and prayers to enable him succeed  in the challenging task ahead of him.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man, Stephen Aondona Nyitse, on Saturday evaded security men and sat on the chair prepared for the new Tor Tiv.

Nyitse sat comfortably and crossed his legs before someone drew the attention of security men, which  prompted some youths to beat him.

He was, however, rescued and whisked away by security men.

When asked the reason  for his action, Nyitse, who claimed to hail from Ushongo Local Government Area of the state, said the “spirit of God sent me to go and sit on the throne.”

However, the state chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Mike Angou, anointed the seat.

Angou said: “A young man just went and sat on the chair provided for the Tor Tiv, so I have to go and re-anoint the seat because at the time the chair was brought here, we had anointed it based on the directive of Tor Tiv.”