By Cosmas Omegoh
There was excitement recently in Lagos when the paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, visited the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, in his palace.
The Tiv monarch also used the opportunity to officially present the new president of Mdzough u Tiv, Lagos State chapter, Theophilus Terkura Ukaa, an engineer, to the Oba.
Speaking on the occasion, the Tor Tiv, also addressed as Begha u Tiv, asked the revered Lagos monarch to give due consideration to the Tiv by making provision for them in his traditional council to enable them be fully aware and comply with the decisions of the council for the peaceful co-existence and the development of Lagos.
He informed the Oba that among the settlers in Lagos, the Tiv were second in number, after the Igbo ethnic nationality.
During his visit to Lagos, the Tor Tiv was received by the entire Oba-in-Council. He used the opportunity to grace the 2024 Tiv Day and Cultural Festival, organised by the Lagos State chapter of Mdzough u Tiv.
While addressing the Oba and his council members, Tor Tiv said: “I bring you blessings from all the people of the Tiv Kingdom in Nigeria and beyond numbering over 20million.
“First, let me thank you and your Council and the Lagos State Government for your love for my subjects in Lagos State. In a very special way, you have been providing a peaceful enabling environment for my people to live and prosper. They have not complained to me of any kind of molestation. So, I have come to appreciate you and the state government and to further consolidate the mutual solidarity and harmonious coexistence.
“I assure you of their commitment to be law abiding and willingness to contribute positively to the economic and political development of Lagos State. It will be appreciated if your Council and the Lagos State Government would consider involving them in the sharing of available opportunities in the state especially because of their large population and commitment to the development of Lagos.”
He gave assurances of sustainable commitment and loyalty of Tiv people in Lagos whom he remarked have been contributing to the social, economic and political development of Lagos State.
He noted that it had become imperative to incorporate the Tiv fully into the Lagos community through appointments and election, maintaining that his subjects are socially and mentally prepared and qualified for the challenge.
The Begha u Tiv further appealed to the Oba and Lagos State Government to review the demolition of some NKST churches in the city which have valid land documents and pay appropriate compensation or allocate new lands to them for the construction of new churches.
He told the Oba that “there had been some kind of internal wrangling among my subjects, but I have finally resolved it and hereby present my son, Engr Theophilus Terkura Ukaa as the legitimate President of Mdzough u Tiv Lagos State chapter to you.
“He is the only one Tiv Area Traditional Council which I preside over as the paramount ruler has appointed as the legitimate President of Mdzough u Tiv, the socio-cultural organisation of the Tiv people, which is a creation of the Tiv Traditional Council. It operates with its full permission all over the world with its headquarters in Gboko (Benue State), the ancestral headquarters of the Tiv people all over the world.”
The Tor Tiv charged Tiv in Lagos to sustain their loyalty to the throne of the Oba and the constituted authorities in Lagos, admonishing them to embrace total unity and love amongst themselves in order to get the best Lagos offers.
“There are plenty opportunities in Lagos which if you unite as a people you can benefit like other nationalities. Forget your differences and unite; it is only by so doing that you can receive the blessings of the Oba and the blessings of God and our ancestors,” the Begha u Tiv stated.
He lauded the fatherly roles played by two elder statesmen of the community: Chiefs Raymond Ihyembe and Engr Sylvanus Gasarah whom he said had tirelessly committed their moral, financial and physical support to the peace and unity of Tiv people in Lagos and urged them to sustain their good counsel to the new leadership of Mdzough u Tiv in Lagos.
The Oba through the Obanikoro of Lagos, High Chief Adesoji Adeniji Ajayibembe, appreciated the visit of the Tor Tiv and disclosed that he cherished the loyalty of Tiv people in his domain while promising to continue with his love for Tor Tiv.
In his remarks, Engr Ukaa expressed his determination to reunite and build a prosperous community of Tiv in Lagos irrespective of the challenges, and solicited the support and cooperation of all to surmount the challenges. He pledged to evolve strategies that would promote Tiv businesses as well as create employment, promote Tiv cultural values especially the teaching and learning of Tiv language.
Ukaa lauded the consistent financial backbone of the great son of Tiv land, Engr Sylvanus Gasarah and commended the immense support of the Oba of Lagos, the entire Yoruba and Lagos State government for their welfare.