Tiv leadership in Taraba disassociates self from petition against Ishaku

The Tiv Cultural and Social Association Taraba State, an umbrella body of the entire Tiv people of Taraba on Tuesday disassociated itself from the petition against governor Darius Ishaku by a group of 27 persons from Dan-Anacha community in Gassol local government area of the state.

President General of the association, Mr. Goodman Dahida at a press conference in Jalingo condemned the petition, describing it as not only misleading, but capable of pitching the Tiv people of the state against the governor.

He said the petitioners did not consult the leadership of Tiv in the state before writing the petition, insisting that the group did not write the petition for and on behalf of the entire Tiv people of the Taraba.

Dahida noted that the only authentic voice of the Tiv people of Taraba is Tiv Cultural and Social Association and none of the officials signed the petition, adding that the number of Tiv as an ethnic group in the state is not 27 and the action of the group should not be misconstrued to mean that the entire Tiv in the state are behind their action.

“In the immediate community from where the petition emanates, the two Tiv Traditional rulers in the area; The Ter Tiv Gassol, Zaki Simon Erentsa and the Maiangwa of Dan-Anacha, Zaki Daniel Mbaterem, did not sign the petition and were not even aware of the development to nip it in the bud.

“We have also gathered that some top members of the opposition, All Progressive Congress (APC), in the state have cashed in on the purported change of the name Dan-Anacha to Kwararafa and are sponsoring the petitioners to cause disaffection.

“Over the years, our Cultural body in the state has employed dialogue and other diplomatic channels in resolving issues and we don’t believe in petitions and being confrontational as best ways of resolving issues.

“We view the petition as purely the handiwork of some desperate politicians who want to drag us into the politics of hatred, blackmail and mischief ahead of 2019 elections,” he said.

The Tiv leader noted that the leadership of Tiv in the state are doing everything possible to amicably resolve the issue and call on the general public to remain calm and the petitioners to suspend further action to enable the leadership liaise with the governor to find the way out of the issue.

“Our immediate concern at the moment is the security and welfare of our people in the villages and we are happy for the peace the governor has restored in the state. We want to appeal to His Excellency to graciously rehabilitate and properly reintegrated our displaced brothers and sisters in their communities, because at the moment their living condition is still very pitiable,” he appealed.