The Governorship Succession Among The Tiv, Why Kwande Should Produce The Next Governor of BENUE

 The Governorship Succession Among The Tiv, Why Kwande Should Produce The Next Governor of  BENUE.

      Benue began with Abdullahi Shelleng in 1976, and by 2023 when Ortom's administration expires, BENUE state would be exactly 47 years old. And out of these years by 2023, the civilians would have ruled the state for a meager 22 years leaving the remaining years to the military. Due to the high level of political instability in the country, between 1976 to 1999, over ten Military administration had reported to the state, with each spending on the average of 2 years and below.

    Viewing from above, Tiv had produced 5 democratically elected Governors acrose the Tiv sons, That's, 

1. Kwande (Governor Aper Aku 1979-1983) 

2. Jerchira (Governor Moses Adasu 1992-1993)

3.  Jemgbagh (Governor George Akume 1999-2007)

4. Sankera (Governor Gabriel Suswam 2007-2015)

5. Minda (Governor Samuel Ortom 2015-2023....)

 This is the first time that Democratic election of Governorship has gone full- circle in Tiv land and we are at across roads where we must maintain the precedence or risk confusion in the future. 

The circle must restart where the democratic election of Governor first began, and that is in Kwande/Ushongo.

Note that as the governorship rotates among the Tiv ruling houses, so as the Tor Tiv is shared. Though the people elect the governor or choose the TorTiv, they don’t determine how long the office holder rules or how long he lives. The fact that  Adasu’s didn’t last up to 4 years was not caused by the people, it was ‘an act of God’ beyond the control of those who elected him.

 In the same way Aper Aku’s second term was also cut short after 90 days, even though the people gave him a mandate of 4 more years. The rotation of the Governorship in Tiv only accounts for the election and not the tenure. In the same way the people do not determine how long a TorTiv should rule, they only elect one and God determines how long he may rule.

For example,

 - The first Tor Tiv was from Jenchira, Makir Zapke, and he ruled for 11 years.

 - The second TorTiv was from Sankera, Gondo Aluor, he ruled for 22 years.

 - The Third TorTiv came out of Jemgbah Dr. James  Akperan Orshi, and he ruled for 11 years. 

- The fourth TorTiv was from Lobi (Minda) and he ruled for 24 years. Only God determines how long anyone would last in power.

If Jenchira are saying that Adasu’s tenure was trucanted it doesn't make sense because, Aper Aku’s tenure was also “truncated” he did not complete the 8 years he was elected to serve.

 But Kwande/Ushongo have waited their turn because only God determines how long anyone would last in power. As far as Democratic Governorship election is concerned among the Tiv people, the next ruling house to present a governor after Minda is Kwande/Ushogo. This will ensure that a continuing circle remains in place for avoidance of confusion.

Levi Orbem Atume