“It takes a different Value System, if you want to change the world”—Jacque Fresco

By TORDUE SALEM

There are two regressive factors in the Tiv Culture: Yuhwe and Pati U tsaam Ior. The first is addressed in Suemo Chia’s “Adan Wade Kohol Ga”, the latter, is treated in Mvendaga Jibo’s “Tiv Politics Since 1959”.

There is a third factor, just as malignant as the two above: The value construct “Mlu Wou, Akumau”(Be contented with your condition)”.

Let us start from the bottom. The question is: considering the slow industrial, economic and political progress of Tivland, since the 19th Century, is it right for “Mlu wase kuman see?”. No, we cannot be contented with our misery at all levels.

Tivland is at the bottom, based on per capita income in Nigeria, administration and strategic placements at all levels.

To strongly demonstrate the regressive politics and Value System of the Tiv man, Late Tor Tiv Ochivirigh Akawe Torkula, years ago, expressed his opposition to the clamour for creation of more states in the federation, saying the proposal for new states in the 1999 Constitution is unnecessary.

The traditional ruler in his new book entitled: “The Culture of Partisan Politics in Nigeria: An Historic Perspective”, took a swipe at the pressure groups seeking new states to be carved from the existing ones, describing their motives as self-serving and superfluous.
Said he: “The problems at the state levels are almost the same as at the federal. States in this country are often created for political aggrandisement or considerations. The economic viability of such states does not seem to constitute an important factor in state creation.

“Nigerians have consciously or otherwise welcomed the state creation and they continue to clamour for more, not necessarily because they want development, but rather, as an avenue for creating jobs for the indigenes of those states.

“Politicians who for one reason or the other cannot make it at the national level find refuge at this level. They become political leaders or heroes of such enclaves. It is believed that apart from the centre, states constitute also, political structures upon which both political and economic objectives are pursued,” he wrote.

The late traditional leader, who was the 4th Tor Tiv, since the Tiv Traditional Council was founded in 1946, also urged the Federal Government under President Umaru Yar’Adua to scrap the “legislative contraption” at the local tier of government, observing that its existence was a waste.

“The introduction of Presidential system at the local government level is too ambitious because it has not taken into account the level of political, economic and social background for the grassroots”, he said.

Late Tiv political leader, Joseph Tarkar, had earlier kicked against creation of more local governments and an additional state from Benue, when Wantaregh Paul Unongo, in his 1958 pamphlet entitled: “Where Do We go From Here”, dared to call for the creation of additional states from the vast land, called Benue.

This sorry view of politics, drawn from the Value System of the Tiv man, is one of the reasons for the backwardness of the land in particular and Benue State in general.

The landmass of Benue, is 34,059km, yet it has only 23 local governments and 276 council wards, while Akwa Ibom State, with a very small landmass of 7,081, has 369 Council wards and 31 local governments.

Kano State with a landmass of 20,131km, has 44 local governments, yet these more privileged states are on the list of several states of the federation, consistently agitating for the creation of more states.

Their politically wise agitations may soon pay off, as the Senate has approved the creation of these states: Itai State (from Akwa Ibom State); State status for the FCT; Katagum State from Bauchi State; Okura State from Kogi East; Adada State from Enugu State; Gurara State from Kaduna South; and Ijebu State from Ogun State.

Others include Ibadan State from Oyo State; Tiga State from Kano State; Ghari State from Kano State; Amana State from Adamawa; Gongola State from Adamawa; Mambilla State from Taraba State; Savannah State from Borno State; and Okun state from Kogi State.

Others on the list are Etiti State from the South East Zone; Orashi State from Imo and Anambra states; Njaba from the present Imo State or the excision of Aba State from Abia State; Anioma State from Delta State; Torogbene and Oil River States, from Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states; and Bayajida State from parts of Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara states.

These other parts of the country, agitating for more states, cannot be foolish. To the contrary, more divisions, if viable, would make for better and more effective administration and progress. No wonder Benue today, rates as one of the most backward states in the country.

The asinine politics of contentment with being in a dungeon and backward, has ensured that that a 45-year old state, is still crawling. Positive greed for advancement, is the reason why as beautiful and developed as the United States is, the Biden Administration is still pushing for an infrastructure budget of a whopping $3.5trillion.

Ambition, is the fuel that drives up economies and a people. The fatalist view of “Mlu wou Akumau la”, is not only sinister, but deeply foolish and smacks of a complete lack of conscience.

A lack of conscience, in the sense that, no people as backward as the Tiv, should even toy with the thought of ‘contentment’. In backward societies, economic or political contentment is evil in itself, because it doesn’t only hold that particular vessel of such thought down, it discourages a community that looks up to the purveyor of such senseless thought, from ambition.

CONCLUSION

Now, let us return to the twin subjects of jealousy and smear campaigns, as political tools in Tiv politics. When a Tiv voter or leader can’t question your positive gifts, they go for either the circumstances of your birth or dismiss you, as an acolyte of a perceived enemy.

In 1979, members of the National Party of Nigeria(NPN), were tagged as “slaves of North”, without proof! The same message recurred in 1982 before the primaries, even though the Late Governor Aper Aku’s competence, was without doubt.

In 1992, the same unproven charge, was brought against Prof. Ignatius Ayua, when he contested on the platform of National Republican Convention(NRC). Again, there was no proof that Ayua was either a closet moslem as falsely claimed, nor was there any proof of his party, nursing any religious agenda. To the contrary, the Social Democratic Party(SDP), was even more of a party of choice for the North, than the NRC was.

Again, in 2019, a better candidate Hon. Emmanuel Jime went down for the same reasons.

Prof. Jibo describes that sort of politicking, as the politics of “psychic gratification”. A politics that is bereft of economic thinking. A politics just for the vulgar pleasure of it and with the ultimate aim of mutual self-destruction. A politics driven by unmistakable jealousy and a tendency for self-harm. Nothing more.

As we march to 2023, Tivland in particular and Benue in general, must decide whether we want to move forward with a new Value System, or remain in the pit for another decade of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

*Tordue Salem, is an underprivileged Nigerian of Benue State origin.

No wonder Ortom is useless?