Sir; what is democracy if people’s preference do not matter,their
expectations crashed,their voices not heard and their needs and
aspirations are not adequately cater for? Democracy is of no
relevance if appointments and employment opportunities are skewed in
favour of some particular interest groups or tribes,while some are
left to wallow in miseries and frustration.
Beginning from 1999,when the new dispensation began to manifest it
self in terms of representative and cabinet formation. The indigenous
Tiv people of Taraba State has neither produce Local Council
Chairman,State Assembly Member,Commissioner,Adviser or Senator to
mention only few.
Now the Tiv people are asking some pertinent and reasonable questions
like; are we really the indigenous people of Taraba State? If we are
then, why is that the key positions in the State are been dominated by
other interest groups or tribes? While we grope in darkness?.
It is regrettable that,the Tiv political growth from 1959,1979 to
1983,1984 and 1992 has nosedived to the lowest ebb under the present
dispensation. It is on record that the Tiv people are the single
largest ethnic group in southern Taraba State. And they are
predominantly in seven local government areas namely;
Takum,Donga,Wukari,Ibi,Gassol,Bali and Gashaka. It is also a well know
fact that the 1947 census put the Tiv as the undisputable majority
ethnic group in the defunct Wukari Federation with a total population
of over 40,400, representing 34%. While the
Kuteb,Jukun,Ichen,Haus,Chamba and others were jointly total as over
73,942,representing 64% (source:National Archives Kaduna(NAK/MAK/Prof.
4377)).
Ordinarily,and going by the principle of fairness and equity as
obtainable internationally,if there are three strategic offices in
Taraba State,Tiv people as one of the dominant ethnic group in the
State ought to have been given one. This would prove beyond reasonable
doubt that the people of the State are free,just and respectful to the
Tiv. Unfortunately,we have not seen this kind of recognition for a
longer time now.
It is also unfair that other ethnic groups in the State have not
considered the Tiv for any of the strategic posts in the State they
pioneer it creation through one of their illustrious son Hon. David
H.Gba’Aondo of blessed memory who move motion in the Federal House of
Representative Lagos in 1983 for the creation of Taraba State. But the
truth of the matter today is that none of the sensitive principal
positions in the state is occupied by any Tiv Man nor Woman. Now the
BIG question is; are there no qualified persons from the Tiv who can
function very well in these offices?
With these arrangement the Tiv people are uncomfortably shut out of
the scheme of things in the State. And the effect is, when major
decisions are to be taken, there will be nobody to genuinely represent
their interest. And that is why important federal and State
appointments are cornered to other tribes who have the privilege of
first knowledge. Worst still is that, the Tiv people uptill now has no
first-class traditional stool in the State.
The marginalization of the Tiv people in Taraba State needs to be
properly addressed so that we can move the State forward. And other
tribes too must change their attitude towards the Tiv. They must be
more willing to give than to take. They must see their position in the
State as a privilege not as right. Therefore,political and traditional
leaders from Tiv must united in their goals,eschew selfishness and
treat sectionalism as a taboo. Educated Tiv sons and daughters should
not be afraid of speaking out against political,economic,social and
every form of marginalization in the State. Silence some times is
taken as agreement or compromise,so the Tiv people of Taraba State
must speak out now.
I REST MY PEN.
John Akevi
Bauchi,20th July,2013
Tel:08188188081
Email:john4akevi@gmail.comkk
