His Royal Majesty, the Tor Tiv V, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse has called for peace and unity among Tiv sons and daughters for the progress and development of the Tiv nation.
Professor Ayatse stated this when the Tiv community in Abuja and environs hosted him Saturday. He said the continued lingering crisis between Tiv and Jukun in Taraba state was politically motivated due to fear of dominance owing to the massive population of the tribe in the state.
The paramount ruler said there has been continued crisis between Tiv and Jukun in Taraba state over four decades which has defied solutions.
“This current crisis between Tiv and Jukun in Taraba state is protracted, it started since the beginning of April, 2019 and it has not finished. It is clear that the intention of the Jukun people is for Tiv people in Taraba state to be repatriated to Benue state.
“He said the unfortunate crisis is politically motivated for the fear of domination because the Tiv people have a massive population in Taraba state. Even then, they have been marginalised.
He stated further that he told the Tiv people in the state that Taraba state is their state of origin, likewise the ones in Nasarawa and Plateau states as well as other parts of the country where they live.
“How can the entire Tiv people be choked in Benue state while other ethnics groups spread all over the country? It is not possible,” he stated.
He said he had long ago planned to initiate programmes aimed at uniting the Tiv race for the common good.
The traditional rural vowed to eradicate poverty in Tiv land. He unveiled Ayatutu ka se Foundation for donations towards the development of the Tiv land.
He remarked that one of the aims and objectives of the foundation was to identify, promote, cater for and uphold the welfare of the Tiv people and work to tackle all other incidental issues affecting the collective well being of the Tiv people all over the world.
