There has been an
eyeball to eyeball between Kwande and Sankera clans on who will produce the
next Tor Tiv even though the law for establishment of Benue Council of Chiefs
and Traditional Council has shown Sankera clan is to produce the next Tor Tiv (5th Tor Tiv) under Section
16(1) schedule 3 of the law.
Tor-Tiv institution
founded in 1946 rotates among the two Tiv sons of Ichongo and Ipusu as the main
ruling houses. These two ruling houses are found in Sankera, Kwande, Jechira, Jemgbagh
and MINDA (Masev,Ihyarev & Nongov).
The first Tor Tiv, HRM
Makir Dzakpe was of Kpar from Ipusu ruling house. He hails from Vandeikya of
Jechira intermediate area. He ruled from 19 September, 1946 and died 12 October, 1956 as
Tor-Tiv the first.
He was succeeded by HRM
Mallam Gondo Aluor of Ichongo ruling house. He hailed from Ugondo of Sankera
intermediate area. He ruled from 1956 and died 17 September, 1978 as Tor-Tiv the
second.
Then it was the turn of
Ipusu ruling house. HRM Dr. James Akperan Orshi of Ipusu from Kpar descendants
ascended the throne. He hails from Tombo of Jemgbagh intermediate area. He
ruled from 1979 and joined his ancestors 14 May, 1990 as Tor-Tiv the third.
It was again the turn of
Ichongo ruling house who produced HRM Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula. He hails from
Ihyarev of MINDA intermediate area. HRM Dr. Torkula ascended the throne 21st
April 1991 till December, 2015.
The stool should rotate
between Ipusu's two sons, namely SHITILE and KPAR when it gets to their turn.
The first Tor-Tiv was appointed by the colonial administration headed by the
British Captain Downes based on Makir Dzakpe,s involvement in the agitation
for Tor-Tiv stool along side Aermbega Samu, Gyuse Doki, etc.
The appointment of Makir
Dzakpe of Kpar as first Tor-Tiv was not in the Tiv tradition where the first
child takes first in all sharing. However, the colonial administrator who held
supreme powers in this regard did what they wanted. Despite this murder of
tradition and culture, the Tiv people were happy for at least getting their
independence.
It was far better than
where the colonial administration imposed a total stranger on Tiv nation in
person of Alhaji Audu Danafoda, a Nupe man from Niger state who settled in
Makurdi as their Monarch. At least, the Tor-Tiv, as a Tiv man no matter where he
came from understands the people's cultural values and tradition as against the
Nupe King in Makurdi a total stranger.
When the turn of Ipusu
came round again in 1978/79, the Shitile made a case for the Tiv nation to
consider the ya na angbian sharing principle in addition to their position as
the eldest son of Ipusu. Late Ezekiel Akiiga was presented for the Tor-Tiv the
third position along other Ipusu sons such as Late Asema Yua from Kwande.
Late Joseph Sarwuan Tarka held sway in Tiv
land in all matters. Tarka drafted late James Akperan Orshi to join the Tor-Tiv
race in order to pave way for his ambition to go to the National Assembly.
James Akperan Orshi was contesting the Jemgbagh seat to National Assembly with
Tarka and late Gbihi Vembe.
By compensating Akeperan Orshi of Jemgbagh from
Kpar family with the Tor-Tiv stool, the eldest son Shitile was once again short-changed and left in the cold. Kwande too was schemed out by Tarka where he
formulated the theory of no one Tiv ruling family can produce Governor and
Tor-Tiv at the same time. It is worthy of note that Tor-Tiv stool is now rotated
among intermediate areas of JECHIRA, JEMGBAGH, SANKERA, KWANDE or MINDA.
This wrong and injustice
against Shitile who is the eldest son from Ipusu lineage should be discouraged. Even the ya na angbian sharing principle of Tiv people favours the
Shitile despite their first position in the ruling family because their younger
brother Kpar has produced two Tivs already in HRM MAKIR DZAKPE and HRM
J. A. ORSHI.
Culture,Tradition,Fairness
and Justice should come to play by allowing SHITILE to produce TOR-TIV the
fifth.
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