Aide to the senate deputy minority leader has reacted to an article against his boss Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
The article widely been circulated on social media by one Tiv Youths Forum accused the deputy minority leader of the 9th senate of keeping mute over the Tiv /jukun debacle of his senatorial district.
But reacting to the allegations his senior legislative Aide ,said it is just a campaign of propaganda against his boss.
In the press release the aide listed all his boss efforts in the senatorial district.
“My attention has been drawn to an inciting article widely circulated in the social media and other fora of recent, signed by an amorphous Tiv Youths Forum, accusing the Deputy Minority Leader of the 9th Senate, Sen.(Dr.) Emmanuel Bwacha, CON of keeping mute over the recurrent Tiv/Jukun debacle of Taraba South-the zone he represents.
Nothing could be ridiculous to say the least but we shall get to that later. The writers who addressed the write-up to the Senate President failed, in the first count by displaying lack of understanding of legislative procedures.
You don’t address such a matter to the Senate and ask it to set-up a comnüssion of inquiry when the matter concerns a State.
It’s unfortunate that the group feigned ignorance; by-passing the Chief Security Officer of Taraba State (The Governor) and went to the Senate to seek relief in the matter that every patriotic and peace loving Tiv/Jukun in the State is concerned about”.
“WHAT IS SILENCE?
It is unfair for anyone to accuse Senator Bwacha of keeping silent when it is on record, he is the most consistent vocal voice on the issue. And this is not only because he is the Senator representing the Zone of the conflict but also because he is a believer in peace and mutual coexistent of all tribes in his Jurisdiction, which he has proven over the decades”.
“FIRST MOVES
In one of the initial cases the group referred to, that is the Mararraba/Donga issue, it was the Senator who made the first move for peace. He reached out to Tiv Leaders across the State to intimate them of the burrowing hostilities. Many of the leaders he reached out to can attest to this fact. The Senator reached them to prevail on the attackers who first pillage Gidan Adamu and Gankwe communities. They were initially repelled but to the communities’ shock, the attacker’s remobilized and came back. Suntai village was attacked too and people displaced in their thousands. The counter attack was said to be as a result of the initial provocation. In one of the attack a Pastor and his wife were hacked to death in the Farm by the alleged Tiv militia.
The attack on the Senators main place was bizarre because the place is NOT known for such clashes. For decades, while those crises raged, they never spilled into the area since it was mostly outside the place. So both the senator and many watchers of the area were shocked at the sudden attacks on the communities”.
“RELIEF MATERIALS
After the attacked on Suntai, Senator Bwacha sent N 1m (One Million Naira ) for relief materials to the displaced people. The senator sent more than that amount to the Tiv communities too. The Tiv Youth Forum’s accusation that he sent N3million Naira to any Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to release culprits in the crisis is a figment of their imagination”.
“THE EFFORTS AT PUBLIC AWARENESS
It is on record that the Senator is always bringing the issues of insecurity of the Zone generally, and Tiv/Jukun debacle particularly, to the front burner of the hallowed Red Chamber. Coming under order 43, the Senator has brought this matter severally on the floor of the Senate. He has had various media interviews on the issues. This is in addition to all the background efforts back home in various peace parleys he has been holding with Tiv/Jukun Leaders of thoughts”.
“PRESENCE OF ARMED FORCES
It’s common knowledge that the art of Military Command is not in the purview of Senator Bwacha. He doesn’t control or direct how armed forces and law enforcement agents chose to station their base(s). What we can say, is that the military is grappling with national insecurity and may thus deploy their men wisely around the country to the best of their professional abilities. This aspect is to the exclusive preserve of the Military hierarchy and the governor. To now accuse the Senator of Influencing posting of Soldiers to protect only Jukun communities is a Fallacy”.
“STOPPING TIV POLITICIANS FROM CONTESTING
It’s comical to accuse Senator Bwacha as a person, of stopping Tiv from contesting elections as the youths averred. After all, Senator Bwacha ran with Dr. Yakubu TorAgbidye, a Tiv Man in the last election. Dr. Agbidye, came a distant third, even with his boast of harnessing Tiv votes. Senator Bwacha enjoyed substantial Tiv votes in past elections. In this last election, most Tiv votes TcMAgbidye) but Senator also got some votes from Tiv especially in Chanchanji and a few from his Local government-Donga.
Those who know Senator Bwacha can attest that he has done a Jot to the Tiv nation in Taraba and the results are there for anybody who cares to know can verify.
It’s also factual that God has used Senator Bwacha to uplift many sons and daughters of Tiv nation in Taraba. Therefore, to accuse him of being part of some mysterious plans for genocide is totally uncharitable and unpatriotic”.
