Tiv Traditional Rulers Make Historic Endorsement
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has expressed profound gratitude to the Supreme Council of the Tiv nation, led by the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, for their historic endorsement of his second-term bid. The governor described the gesture, which occurred during a meeting in Gboko at the weekend, as both humbling and deeply inspiring.
A Vote of Confidence in Benue's Transformation
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia stated that the endorsement represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in his administration's integrity and the transformative strides witnessed across the state. He commended the Ijir Tamen for acknowledging the work done in steering Benue towards development, peace, and prosperity.
The governor reiterated his commitment to the covenant of rebuilding, renewing, and restoring Benue with transparency, equity, and compassion. He assured the Tor Tiv and the entire Tiv Nation that this honour would only strengthen his dedication to serve with greater zeal, humility, and accountability.
PDP Condemns Royal Endorsement
Meanwhile, the main opposition party in the state, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly criticized the Ijir Tamen for their open political endorsement. The party contends that by openly endorsing a sitting governor, the revered traditional stool has been dragged into the murky waters of politics.
The PDP warned that such conduct risks defiling the sanctity of the throne and eroding the trust and moral authority the Tiv traditional institution has commanded for generations. It described the development as a grave departure from the sacred neutrality expected of the traditional institution, whose duty is to unite and guide, not to act as a partisan campaigner.
