A 105-year-old member of the old Gongola State House of Assembly, Hon. David Mtwem has endorsed Prof. Sebastine Hon’s governorship ambition in Benue State.
The centenarian who came to the Makurdi residence of the governorship aspirant on Wednesday said Prof. Hon has capacity to bring peace to Taraba State and govern Benue State effectively.
Known for his political activism, Mtwem expressed confidence in Prof. Hon, recalling the Constitutional Lawyer’s many years of assistance to the people of Taraba State.
He lamented the sustained, systematic and many years of attacks on the Tiv by the Jukun people in Taraba State.
Mtwem, who represented Wukari Federation in the defunct Gongola State House of Assembly in 1979 and 1983 recalled that the Jukun once attacked his place and killed 21 people including his wife.
He accused the Jukun of renaming Tiv settlements, destroying Tiv-populated churches and hindering the upgrade of Tiv-dominated polling units.
“Now the Jukun people say we’re no indigenes of Taraba state.
“I was part of the struggle for the creation of the state,” he lamented.
Mtwem passionately urged the Benue State electorate to back Prof. Hon, stating that he is the best candidate for the job.
The endorsement comes as Prof. Hon consults with various stakeholders, including clans and communities, ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Benue State.
Mtwem who lives in a place called Ayu Lokoja in today’s Wukari Local Government Area in Taraba State is now a theologist, spreading the word of God.
According to him, the recent visit of the Benue State governor to his Taraba State counterpart, Governor Abgu Kefas was of no use.
“I called Tor Sankera and told him that the Tiv in Taraba are facing extermination.
“Tor Sankera took this matter to the Tor Tiv. The Tor Tiv now spoke with Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“This brought about the visit to Taraba State.
“The meeting was slated for 10:00am but he [Alia] arrived around 4:00pm.
“The people told him his visit was late,” he explained.
Mtwem lamented that his sustained efforts to talk to Alia him have failed.
Responding, the senior lawyer thanked his guest for the solidarity visit, saying God has kept Mtwem this long for the good of humanity.
Prof. Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is leading a team of 40 lawyers in a case against the Taraba State government, instituted by the Tiv people.
