From Austine Tule, Makurdi
Minister for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Afairs George Akume, has continued to get knocks over his recent attacks on the Tiv Paramount ruler, Prof. James Ayatse.
The latest of such the AUTHORITY gathered is coming from the Konshisha Area Traditional Council which has described the unwarranted attack on the Tiv paramount ruler as sacrilegious and unacceptable.
The Ter Ikyor and Chairman of Second Class Traditional Rulers in Tiv land, Chief Thomas Jam Gbinde, who led the royal fathers in condemnation of the conduct displayed by George Akume, said such outing was alien to the Tiv culture.
Chief Jam Gbinde, who was speaking at Agbeede during this year’s Mbator Day celebrations said castigating the Tor Tiv in the public amounts to insulting the entire Tiv nation, saying such an act would only portray the Tiv people in bad light before other nationalities.
“As illustrious sons of the Tiv nation, it is only proper for anyone who has grudges with our paramount ruler to go and discuss with him in private. You cannot go to the pages of newspapers to rain insults on him because it portrays us as people without respect for the traditional institution,” Ter Ikyor stated.
Speaking in similar vein, Tyoor Mbatsen, Chief Daniel Nder Kuhwa, lauded the Tiv Youth Organization for promptly condemning Akume’s comments and demanding for a public apology from the Minister to the Tor Tiv.
Chief Kuhwa said it is an abomination for a son of Tiv land to go to the market square to call the royal father unprintable names. He urged other prominent sons of Tiv extraction to rise in condemnation of Akume’s conduct.
The Konshisha Area Traditional Council cautioned against a repeat of what they termed shameful utterances from a man who is expected to set good examples for the younger generation.
The royal fathers threw their weight behind Governor Samuel Ortom on his efforts in providing security in all parts of Benue State particularly the Governor’s recent appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari not to withdraw Operation Whirl Stroke from the state.
Others who spoke on the occasion included the Caretaker Deputy Chairman of Konshisha local government area, Hon Emmanuel Ortese and Chairman of the event, Mr Peter Iorgema of College of Education Oju, who also commended Governor Ortom for the numerous efforts his administration is making in various sectors of the economy.
High-point of the event was the honour conferred on Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Terver Akase as a worthy son of Mbator and Konshisha in general.
Chief Jam Gbinde and the other traditional rulers acknowledged the importance of education and urged their subjects to pursue education, stressing that it was the reason while their son, Terver Akase who is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor was being celebrated.
Responding, Mr Akase thanked the Mbator community for the honour and dedicated it to his principal, Governor Ortom who he said would continue to deliver on his promises to Benue people.
The Governor’s spokesman also promised to support subsequent celebrations of Mbator Day to feature various competitions where awards would be given to winners to encourage entrepreneurship spirit among the youths.
