By Donald Gaadi
Tiv people are descendants from Yudah(original name of Judah in Hebrew), one of the best among the twelve tribes of Yashalaah(original name of Israel in Hebrew). Yudah and Yashalaah were corrupted by Latin to Judah and Israel accordingly. When the Yashalaah’s where on their way from Egypt to Canaan, Takuruku Nyiam-Azenga, Tiv’s father, was among those that went astray and headed to South Africa. From South Africa, they migrated to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, later to Nigeria and Cameroon in West and Central Africa respectively, where they are presently found in the two countries.
Tiv had a wife called Aliwe and two sons namely; Ichongo and Ipusu. Ichongo’s descendants are; Ugondo (Yatiev, Tswarev), Nongov (Saghev, Ndzorov, Kaambe), Ikyurav (Liev, Menev), Turan (Kumakwagh, Yaav, Mbadura, Moon), Masev (Injiriv, Yonov, Ingohov) and Iharev (Tyoshin, Isherev, Utyondo) while those of Ipusu are; Shitile (Kpav, Gaambe), Ukum (Ucha, Torov, Mbaterem, Ingenev), Kparev (Jechira, Jemgbagh, Ikyor) and Tongov (Tiir, Iwar). Ichongo and Ipusu’s desendants are mixed up and spread across Tiv land.
The Tiv people in Nigeria did not have a traditional ruler until in 1946 when some of their sons came back home after a successful battle for the British side during the second world war which ended in 1945 and saw the need. Tiv people coined a name, the “TOR TIV” for their traditional ruler. The idea of having many traditional rulers under the “TOR TIV” did not arise immediately but as time went on, it came up.
The first, second and third Tor Tiv were their Majesties, Orchivirigh Makir Zakpe, Tor Tiv I (1946 to 1956), Orchivirigh Gondo Aluor, Tor Tiv II (1956 to 1978), Orchivirigh Akperan Orshi, Tor Tiv III (1979 to 1990), Ochivirigh Dr. Alfred Torkula, Tor Tiv IV (1991 to 2015) and the present Tor Tiv, His Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, Tor Tiv V (2016 to date).
The approval by the Tiv Area Traditional Council Supreme Assembly, “IjirTamen”, which was presided over by His Majesty, late Ochivirigh Dr. Alfred Torkula for the creation of six first class chief thrones, introduction of third class chiefs, the creation of 60 more districts and the re-naming of some second class chiefs thrones in Tiv part of Benue state was in order.
The first class chief thrones are Tor Sankera, Tor Kwande, Tor Jechira, Tor Jemgbagh, Tor Lobi and Tor Gwer. The third class chiefs which complements the second class chiefs are referred to as “Imue Ter”. The status quo of fourth and fifth class chiefs, that is; district heads and kindred heads have being maintained. This is highly commendable, but there is a little unfinished business in the sense that the Tiv people in Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states are left out. Those in the republic of Cameroon have their own traditional hierarchy so I will not include them in this case.
Tor Tiv is the supreme ruler of Tiv people in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau as well as other parts of Nigeria and the entire world so those in Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states should not be excluded. All the traditional leadership changes effected in Tiv part of Benue state, should be similarly carried out in Tiv part of Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states.
I suggest Taraba Tivs should have three first class chiefs while those in Nasarawa and Plateau should have two each. Again, the Tiv traditional rulers in Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states should be attending the Tiv traditional council meetings along with their Benue colleagues in Gboko, the traditional headquarters of the entire Tiv people aside from attending their respective states council of chiefs meetings because both are different meetings. While the Tiv Area Traditional Council meeting is for the entire Tiv traditional rulers irrespective of their states of origin, the state council of chiefs meeting is for the traditional rulers of a particular state.
I urge the Tiv Area Traditional Council to device a mechanism that will bring about an interaction among these states on traditional leadership level and forward the matter to the respective state houses of assembly through their Executive Governors for legislative actions and executive implementations.
Donald Gaadi contributed this opinion from Abuja
