Ijir Tamen, the supreme council of the Tiv, presided by His Eminence Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, CFR, Tor Tiv, and President Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers on Saturday, November 8, endorsed Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State, for a second term, citing his performance in office thus far.
Fr. Alia was elected governor in 2023 and assumed office on May 29, 2023, with the next round of election due in 2027.
The Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) convened the council to review progress made on reforms in Tiv culture and tradition recommended by the council in 2018 and passed as resolutions in 2023. The committee for the reforms was headed by His Royal Highness (HRH) Thomas Jamgbinde, Ter Kyôr (of blessed memory). The decision to endorse the governor came after the opening ceremony of the council.
Prof Ayatse put the question for endorsement to the council after the governor highlighted his achievements within two and half years in office as Governor.
Among other things, Fr. Alia said he has rebuilt 256 basic schools across the state; recruited 9500 basic school teachers who are already collecting salaries; put minimum wage at Seventy Five Thousand Naira (as against the Seventy Thousand Naira approved by the Federal Government); renovated 340 Primary Healthcare Centres; ensured regular payment of pension and salaries and the payment of gratuity to retiring civil servants within 30 days of exiting the service; awarded 396Km of roads with 26 streets completed in Makurdi.
Other projects ongoing by his administration include the construction of 22.5Km Manyam-Unongo-Adikpo Road, 63.5Km Obagaji-Okokolo-Agagbe-Naka Road, 31.2Km Igumale-Agila Road, 52km Awajir-Ullam-Oju Road, Adikpo-koti Yôgh- Tse Mker, and award of Yandev Roundabout- Lubona Junction- Bristow Roundabout Road.
The governor also named the construction of 250 housing units for civil servants with support from the Federal Government, training of 11 batches of entrepreneurs in China and 45 artisans who are in Belarus to spend a period of nine months learning trade skills.
He also spoke on his efforts to address security challenges in the state to allow for peace and accelerated development.
The Governor appreciated the council for endorsing him for a second term as Governor of Benue State.
”This historic pronouncement and unique gesture, coming from the apex traditional authority of the Tiv Nation, is both humbling and deeply inspiring.
”It represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in my leadership, integrity, and the transformative strides already being witnessed across the state under my administration,” the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula said in a statement.
The governor said he remained committed to his covenant with the people of the state to rebuild, renew, and restore Benue with transparency, equity, and compassion.
”This endorsement by the Tiv Supreme Council reaffirms the unity, wisdom, and foresight of our revered traditional institution. It is also a testament to the collective resolve of the Tiv people and indeed all Benue citizens to consolidate on the progress we are making and to ensure continuity of good governance,” the governor said.
Among reforms re-emphasised by the council are conduct of burial ceremonies not as celebrations but avenues for sober reflection, inheritance – wives and all children irrespective of gender are entitled to inheritance except where a Will says otherwise, marriage rites should not be above One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00), and that women cannot be crowned kings.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State Chapter, however, said it is disappointed that Ijir Tamen endorsed Fr. Alia for a second term.
Tim Nyor, State Publicity Secretary of the party, in a statement issued on Sunday, November 9, said the “development represents a grave departure from the sacred neutrality and moral authority expected of the traditional institution.”
