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Tiv Taraba And Political Injustice – By John Akevi

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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

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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

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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

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