Fear, Worries And Gossip As Who Emerge The Next King Of Tiv People (Tor Tiv)

The clamour by Tiv people to have a paramount ruler over them known as Tor Tiv had been on for time immemorial but it was in 1946 that captain Dawnes, the then British administrator in Tiv land granted their hearts desire with the appointment of late Makir Zakpe, a first World war veteran as the pioneering Tor Tiv. Historians say Tiv had one wife called Aliwe and the couple had 2 two children only named ichongo and Ipusu. Ichongo gave birth to Turan, Kyurav, Nongov, Ihyarev, Ugondo and Masev while Ipusu gave birth to Shitile, Ukum,Kparev and Tongov. With Ichongo as the elder son therefore, it was natural that the first Tor Tiv ought to had come from Ichongo. How the Kparev, a descendant of Ipusu, the younger brother produced the first Tor Tiv remains best known to the then colonial authorities in Tivland at the time Makir Zakpe was from Mbaduku, in the present Vandeikya local Government of Benue state. He died in 1956 and was succeed by Gondo Aluor, from Ugondo, one of the descendant of Ichongo. He was from the present Logo local government of Benue state. He gave up his ghost in 1978, And was succeeded by Dr. James Akperan Orshi. A mild drama heralded Orshi ‘s emergence, while late J.S. Tarka was nursing presidential ambition prior to return to civilian rule in 1979,Dr Orshi was going for senate. In those days, there were only 19 states in Nigeria and each state was allowed 5 senatorial seats. Igalas ( now in Kogi state ) were also part of Benue state. The agreement was that Tiv people should produce governor and 2 two senators, Idoma people were to produce 2 two senators and the chairman of the then possible ruling party, the National party of Nigeria, N.P.N presidential primaries in Kaduna. All of a sudden, the northern muslims deserted Tarka, a Christian and teamed up with one of their own, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The Fulani man from sokoto state overpowered the Tivman from Benue state when it mattered most. After his humiliation in Kaduna, Tarka headed for home and it was decided that though Orshi was already chosen, he should step down for Tarka for a better representation at the senate. Orshi was said to had grudgingly withdrawn and Tarka picked the ticket. Jechira, Jengbagh and Minda fell under J.S. Tarka’s senatorial district while kwande and Sankera composed the other senatorial district with elder suema Chia from Tongov, K/Ala local government as the chosen one. J.S.Tarka was from mbakor. It was said elder Asema Yua from the present Usongo local government was tipped to replace the late Aluor as the next Tor Tiv and was only waiting for endorsement. At the well attended Ijirtamen (Tiv Supreme Assembly) in Gboko, Tarka raised eyebrows, arguing that Mr. Aper Aku was the Governor in waiting and since he and Yua were from the same area, there was no way Yua and Aku would be king and Governor respectively at the same time. Wantaregh Paul Unongo was said to be at the meeting and was said to had countered Tarka’s remarks by saying that the incoming governor of state was Mr. Paul Belabo from Jechira and not Aku. Tarka was sponsoring Aku for the impending Guber election while Unongo put forward Belabo. Most prominent Tiv people at the meeting reportedly agreed with Tarka’s subanission and so elder Yua was schemed out and Orshi, from Tombo Jemgbagh in the present Buruku local Government was crowned the third Tor Tiv, apparently, as compensation for the senatorial seat he relinquished to Tarka. He was also kparev,(Ipusu). On march 30^th 1980, Tarka died in London and the whole of Tiv nation stood still, quite. Orshi and Aku, who was now, the state Governor were shocked beyond words. Aku was said to had wept like a child but the then political top notched from Ikyobo in the present Ushongo local government himself died 7 seven years later in lagos, Nigeria. One of his close associates, senator (Prof) Iyorwuese Hagher was said to had been completely devastated when he heard of Aku’s death. Orshi was yet to come to terms with the realities of the passage of Tarka and Aku when death come knocking at his door in 1990. He was succeeded by Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, from Ihyarev (Ichongo), in the present Guma local government area. The Begha U Tiv (lion of the Tiv race) died November at the age of 71 in Abuja, the nations capital city. He ruled for 24 years. After Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula’s death, Ter Guma, Chief Ivokor Unongo was moved to Gboko to act as the Tor Tiv, pending the selection of a new substantive Tor Tiv. Going by the Tiv culture of ya na angbian (chop and give your brother), it is the turn of Ipusu to produce the next Tor Tiv. To narrow it down, the next Tor Tiv must come from Kwande, Ushongo, K/Ala,Logo or Ukum local government area. Some of the names mentioned as contenders include, Ter Ushongo, Chief Ambrose Iortyer and his subjects, Chief Mike Kase Aondoakaa and Chief Benard Verr. Kwande is said to be offering Chief Terlumun Akputu, Dr. Emmanuel Ayangaor, Bar Vincent Uji, Chief Adaa Maagbe, retired Justice Terna Puusu, Justice M. Ikpambase and Engr. B.I. Ikyanyon. K/Ala is said to be thinking of Dist. Hon. Iannah Jato, a serving member of the Benue state house of assembly, Commodore J.I. Afeah Ambassador Iyorwuese Hagher and Chive Kaave. In logo, Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam. In Ukum local government, senator Daniel Saror, Elder Benjamin Chaha and Chief Shima Ayati are all said to be interested. More to come as Nigeria My Country Blog Site carry out comprehensive research.