Benue State is home to Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo and other smaller tribes and amongst all, the Tiv people are the largest tribe in Benue, in the North Central and the 4th largest tribe in Nigeria. It is on records that the Tiv tribe is very good in bringing down their own people and are also good in ensuring their own people don't progress in their work environment or business this attitudes confirmed that, hatred and envy have gradually forms part of Tiv Nation .
It is the nature of a Tiv person to celebrate and rejoice over the downfall of his follow sister or brother for no gain or reward but simply because the said person was doing well in life and living better. The Tiv people where known to be very United tribe and worthy farmers too but all of a sudden, the entire Tiv Nation has been engulfed in hatred and envy for one another.
A Tiv man who shares the same office with another Tiv man prefers to help the other tribe to grow successful than help his own tribal person grow in the same job. A Tiv man can convert his last energy and strength to ensure the other Tiv man doesn't get to the top and for so doing, the Tiv man will go to bed in peace than see another Tiv man in the corridor of power.
Benue State has two major political battlefields or class if you like, one is the Tiv speaking areas and the other is the Idoma speaking areas however, the Tiv speaking area eventhough has been controlling the political structures of Benue, can not boost of having place their people better in terms of job opportunities for the teeming youths and juicy appointments for their sons and daughter at the Federal level.
For the first time since the return of democracy in 1999 to date, Benue will be placed in the highly sensitive office such as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) and a powerful Minister for Water Resource and Sanitation. Aside this major appointments, Benue is still benefitting and will be benefitting from the gesture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as much time permits.
Benue State is indeed very fortunate under Tinubu administration for having such a powerful office occupied by a Tiv man but to some Tiv sons "it shouldn't have been Akume, it should be them" and this is what has brought about the common pull me down syndrome that has set Tiv Nation against one another and backwards in all spheres. But the facts is that, there exist only one SGF office and only one person shall be appointed and for doing so it is who the cap fits and that is Sen. Dr. George Akume, this is hoping that Akume will further elevate other Tiv prominent sons and daughters using his influence and office.
The worst evil hovering over Benue State and particularly Tiv land at the moment is the thirst for power. Everybody wants to be a Leader in Tiv land and everyone wants to be a decision maker in Tiv land and Benue at large but in real sense, two Leaders does not exist at the same time in a particular generation, only one Leader serves as a voice and a bridge for his people.
It is now time to leave political differences and join hands to build Benue State but instead, some are already grouping under different umbrells to ensure Sen. Dr. George Akume is wrestle to his feet. It is painful that at the moment, some Benue sons are working tirelessly underground to destroy the hard earned reputation of Sen. Dr. George Akume under the aegis of Zone "A" Peoples Assembly (ZAPA) and the Benue Progressive Forum for Good Governance who are mapping out strategies to bring Sen. Akume down before 2027. This Groups are sponsored Groups who have at separate times issued Press Conferences against Akume and their aim is targeted to stair up issues so that Akume will be sacked by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Before the pen runs dry, let us understand the implications of trying to bring a brother or sister down, if he or she is sacked, the appointment may automatically move to another State or another tribe just like the case of Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the former PDP National Chairman who was brought down by his own brothers and was celebrated by many. Akume needs Benue now more than ever and the time to bring Benue State back on track is now and all we require is total unity and mutual understanding to move Benue to the next level.
May God help Benue State.
Comr. Bem Orshi (YASC)
Writes from Makurdi, Benue State
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