At last, the unity of Tivs in Nasarawa state excites Governor Abdullahi Sule, who said he can proudly bear the traditional title conferred on him by the Tiv community as the Zhenguali ‘U’ Tiv of the state.
Governor Sule who expressed profound happiness with the coming together of the people as one indivisible family, charged them to embrace unity and peace among them against division for the purpose of progress.
The governor stated this when he played host to thousands of the Tiv ethnic nationality in Nasarawa state during their solidarity visit to the governor in the government house, Lafia on Thursday.
It would be recalled that the Tiv people in over 4 local government areas of the southern senatorial zone in the state had been at logger head with each other spanning about ten years.
The major area of discord amongst the various people was on the ground of who should be the political arrow head in the leadership of their socio- cultural association ‘Tiv Development Association’ (TIDA).
But Governor Sule during their visit assured them that the only way forward for them if government most heed at their yearnings and aspirations is when they forgive and forget about what would have happened in the past.
In the governor’s words, “I can now proudly bear the tittle of Zhegumali U Tiv.
“In my life, I like to see unity, I like to see people living in happiness with each other, I like to see elders who are struggling to bring those who are following them to unite for progress, unity, development and for wealth.”
Engineer Sule continued that “What I am seeing today is exactly the dream that I had and at this moment, I want to show my appreciation to especially to those who have confronted the challenges of uniting our people of Tiv community, like Engineer Moses Ottondu and Barrister Akaka, our elder Senator Teligyedo and other stakeholders.
“Even if you don’t do anything for me, please live together in peace with one another and try as much as possible to forgive one another for what might have happened in the past.”
He said “Until you forgive one another, you cannot go forward, for me as far as I am concern, I have forgiven and forgotten who voted for who during my election, as you are all here, I am also there for you and I want you to as much as possible feel the same way among yourselves,” Governor Sule pleaded.
The governor urged the Tivs in the state to forget about the divide and rule that politicians have come to use in achieving their aims among them.
Earlier, spokesman of Tiv community in the state, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, commended Governor Sule for restoring and sustaining peace in Nasarawa State which was a mirage in the past five years.
“Today, as a result of this relative peace, our people have resumed massive farming and can now sleep with their eyes closed without fear of attack and molestation,” Kucha maintained.
Professor Kucha further intimated the governor that almost all the primary schools and health care facilities in some of the Tiv communities are in dilapidated stage following the herders ,farmers crisis that engulfed the areas.
Gov Sule tasks Tiv in Nasarawa on unity
