Anxiety as new Tor Tiv emerges on Tuesday

There is palpable anxiety among the Tiv nation following the announcement by the Benue State government that a new Tor Tiv would emerge on Tuesday, December 20, 2016.

Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that the process for the emergence of the new royal father commenced since last month and would climax between December 19 and 20. The successful candidate will succeed the late Tor Tiv IV, Orchivirigh, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, who died in November last year.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who announced the date after an agreement was reached at a meeting with kingmakers and contestants for the stool during the week at the Government House in Makurdi, urged the traditional electoral college to deploy dialogue as much as possible in the selection process.

He added that the Tiv Traditional Council should first resolve the issue of who would produce the next Tor Tiv between the Ipusu lineage in Sankera and Kwande so that only contestants from one of the two blocs could vie for the seat.

The governor further appealed to the traditional rulers to select someone who would unite the people and propel the Tiv race for proper recognition at the national level. He urged the contestants to understand that power belongs to God and reiterated his pledge not to interfere with the selection process.

It is believed that Ortom’s plea for a transparent process in the selection of the new Tor Tiv may not be unconnected with the never-ending list of contestants from the Ipusu lineage. On a daily basis, eligible candidates have continued to show interest in the vacant stool.

Prominent among the candidates are a former Ambassador to Argentina, Chivie Kaave of the Sankera bloc; a former chairman of Kwande Local Government Area, Chief Terlumun Akputu, Kwande bloc; a former governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Shima Ayateh of Sankera bloc; a Makurdi High Court judge, Justice Morris Ikpembese, who claims to be of Kwande bloc. However, his identity is said to be controversial as some of his kinsmen insisted that he belonged to the Ichongo lineage. A former vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Senator Daniel Saror of Sankera bloc, is also interested in the stool.

Others are a former aide de camp to former Governor Gabriel Suswam, Dickson Orlu Pawa, who is from Sankera; a former vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Prof. James Ayateh; a former chief judge of Benue State, who is of Kwande bloc, Justice Terna Pwusu, also of Kwande bloc; and a second class traditional ruler, Ter Ushongo, Ambrose Iortyer of Kwande bloc.

Usually, every male child of Tiv descent is a potential prince, going by the rotation of the royal stool between the two major clans in the land, which are the Ipusu and Ichongo - the two sons of their founder.

The legendary lineages are made up of five intermediate areas known as Jemgbagh, Sankera, Kwande, Jechira and Minda, upon which political calculations are rested.

This has been the practice since 1946 when the late Orchvirigh Makar Dzakpe became the first Tor Tiv. He reigned from 1946 to 1956. He was succeeded by the late Orchivirigh Gondo Aluor, who reigned from 1956 to 1978. The late Orchivirigh James Akperan took over as Tor-Tiv from 1979 to 1990. It was after his demise that Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula IV ascended the exalted throne in 1991.

Since Torkula, the longest serving Tor Tiv so far, hailed from Ichongo, traditionalists are of the opinion that the stool should be zoned to Ipusu in line with the rotational principle of kingship in the land.

This position is also supported by the state’s recent chieftaincy law, which recognizes Ichongo and Ipusu as ruling houses in the Tiv land, as well as six other first and third class chiefdoms (Uter) where applicable.

Apparently worried by the endless list of those eyeing the throne and the alleged controversial nature of the Ipusu, unlike the Ichongo, where the governor hails from, Ortom is said to have resorted to divine intervention.

Going by the politics and intrigues playing out among the Ipusu, believed to be the descendants Ichongo’s younger brother, it would probably require a miracle to produce the next Tor Tiv on Tuesday without crisis.

This is because the issue of zoning the mantle of leadership to the Ipusu from either the Sankera or Kwande bloc has already generated controversy. Expectedly, this will pose a challenge to the IjirTamen, the highest Tiv traditional council, which is expected to hold a congress on Monday. Both blocs are laying claim to the throne.

Speaking at the funeral of Mama Nguyume Mue, mother of the legal adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Tera Mue recently, former Governor Suswam decried the politicisation of the Tor Tiv stool. He said that in line with traditional practice, the position should be zoned to the Sankera bloc where he belongs. He, however, feared that there were moves to scuttle such practice. He warned that any attempt to deny the people of Sankera the slot would be tantamount to inviting trouble. He urged those concerned to do the right thing.

Apart from Suswam, speculations are rife among the Tiv people that the two days set aside for the kingmakers (consisting of six newly appointed first class chiefs, second and third class chiefs) to do the needful may be marred with serious controversies that would end up in legal tussle.

“The Ipusu have a long history of difficulty in filling their vacant stools. They are known to be very stubborn on issues that could be amicably resolved. They are not like the Ichongo who are traditionalists to the core and would easily abide by the dictates of their elders,” a source told our correspondent. He said the Ichongo last longer on the throne than the Ipusu because of their less controversial nature as depicted during the emergence of the second and fourth Tor Tiv.

“It is because of this attitude of the Ipusu that they are yet to fill the vacant stools of the Ter Tarka, Ter Kunav and Ter Ukum till now. Those second class chiefs died before the late Tor Tiv but they are yet to get replacements,” the source added.

As a result of these fears, various groups are calling for a mock election to reduce the long list of candidates to a manageable number.

At the moment, no one can predict the outcome of the exercise except after the Monday meeting when the kingmakers would have narrowed the contest to one of the blocs.

For now, both the old and the young are in the race, a situation that promises a lot of drama in the days ahead.

Although the rumour mill has it that the kingmakers are disposed to zoning the position to the Sankera bloc, there are allegations that the Benue State government is in favour of Kwande.

Meanwhile, Governor Ortom has promised that his administration would map out specific roles for traditional rulers, especially in evolving security strategies for the state. He, however, vowed to sanction any traditional ruler who gets involved in partisan politics or desecrates the institution.