From GODWIN AGIA, Jalingo
The Tiv people of Taraba State on Saturday said they were open to acceptable political alliances that would emancipate their people.
The group who rose from a two-day summit with the theme: The leadership question and the future of the Tiv people of Taraba State, urged the Tiv people to participate actively in all political processes, ahead of the next month’s general elections.
In a communique signed by the Planning Committee Chairman, Rev. Fr. Simon Akuraga, and Secretary, Justin Tyopuusu, the group said the idea of the summit was borne out of the desire to address the plethora of challenges confronting the Tiv people of Taraba State origin.
The summit which agreed to have a Central Traditional Leader of Tiv in Taraba State to be called TER Tiv Taraba for easy coordination of the people adopted Zaki David Gbaa Tela JP (Ter Bali II) as the first Tiv Central Traditional Leader.
Part of the communique reads, “the summit condemned the senseless killings, maiming, displacement, and destruction of valuable property belonging to the Tiv in Taraba State, and called on the Taraba State government to take urgent steps to ensure the return of all displaced people to their ancestral lands.
“Furthermore, the summit condemned the misunderstanding that led to a security breach in Takum LGA among Tiv themselves and called for restraints on the side of both parties.
“Summit agreed for the setting up of peace committee at local government level and promotion of oneness of the Tiv above clannish and self-interests.
“Encouraged the promotion of social justice, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and the diversification of the Tiv economy through entrepreneurship and vocational skills for the empowerment of women and youths for a more peaceful prosperous Tiv society.”
The communique while calling on religious leaders of Tiv extraction to intensify efforts towards promoting learning programmes that would promote peace, unity, and progress among the Tiv people also resolved that the summit shall be an annual event where the Tiv people will be meeting to discuss and map out development plans.
