TIV people, in Nigeria and the diaspora, have written the wife of the governor of Taraba State, Mrs Anna Darius Ishaku, over the ongoing communal crisis between Jukun and Tiv in Southern Taraba State.
Mrs. Ishaku, a prolific lawyer, is Tiv from Vandeikya, Benue State, but married to the governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, a Jukun architect.
She had been bestowed the Tiv chieftaincy title of “Msughshima u Tiv Taraba,” meaning ‘one who comforts Tiv people living in Taraba in times of sorrow and misery’.
Anna Ishaku clocked 64 penultimate Saturday — the day Jukun militants were suspected of attacking a Tiv village –Tor-Damsa, in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba.
300 houses were reportedly set ablaze in the attack.
When this reporter published Mrs Ishaku’s picture, decorated in Tiv’s famous black and white cultural regalia —anger, on his Facebook wall, announcing her birthday, a flurry of goodwill messages by Tiv folks greeted the post.
Beneath felicitations, however, were biting commentaries urging the governor’s wife to talk to her husband to ensure the crisis between the two tribes was brought to an end.
Cosmas Karachi Gbaa said he would not celebrate her because of the killings. “What is exciting about her birthday when others are mourning their loved ones in her domain?” He asked.
Read Also: Buhari to traditional, religious leaders: Stop escalating Tiv/Jukun crisis
It was gathered that the Jukun/Tiv crisis is an aged-long recurring feud, which only known cause is a claim by the Jukun that the Tiv are “settlers” in Taraba State, and ipso facto, have no ownership right to the land they occupy and should leave.
Worried and pressured, Governor Darius Ishaku recently declared that Taraba Tiv are indigenes, contrary to the proclamation by his kinsmen.
Ishaku’s pronouncement was expected to trigger a cessation of hostilities. But the President of Southern Taraba Tiv Youth Progressive Forum (TYPF), Kelvin Katyo, disclosed that Ikyergba —a Tiv village in Takum was again attacked and seven persons were feared killed.
Katyo has cried out over a threat to attack them in Takum and Donga local gov ernment areas in days. He raised alarm that he has received a warning from a suspected Jukun militia group of the impending attack, adding that Tiv residents in Takum and Donga have been given a seven-day ultimatum to pack out of their homes.
The threat has built fears in the areas, it was learnt.
Police spokesman, David Misal, confirmed the threat but said he does not know those who issued the threat.
“Yes, we are aware of a threat to attack some communities in Taraba and our attention has been drawn to it. But we don’t know the hoodlums or whatever group that is issuing the threat.
“However, we are on ground to make sure we do everything possible to repel any attack by whatsoever group; whether they are hoodlums, militias and or bandits,” Misal told The Nation.
Katyo, in a statement averred that he has lost 93 Tiv persons while 42,000 are displaced in separate attacks since hostilities between them and Jukun began in Kente village of Wukari Local Government Area on April 1.
In his birthday letter to Mrs. Ishaku, Polycarp Tersoo Andura, a stakeholder of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, urged the governor’s wife to tell her husband to follow the footsteps of his predecessor, late Danbaba Suntai, who he said, embraced peace throughout his reign.
His letter reads: “Ma, please tell your husband that Jukun are killing your Tiv brothers. Queen Esther used her position to save Mordecai and the Jews.
“I believe God sent you to bring peace between us and Jukun, by marrying Darius Ishaku when he had no idea of becoming governor.
“May the soul of Governor Danbaba Suntai rest in peace. Taraba enjoyed relative peace during his regime.
“Baba Suntai never supported Tiv/Jukun crisis. Peace started eluding Taraba as soon as God untimely took his life.
“The children of Israel experienced war when Ahab reigned as king, so let your hus band’s administration embrace peace. Happy birthday Your Excellency and dear mother.”
Uvirkaa Akumaga, a Tiv Geography Lecturer in Oklahoma University, US, in his message, expressed disappointment over the renaming of Tiv settlements in Taraba State during Ishaku’s administration.
Akumaga, who wrote from Columbia, Missouri, said: “Happy birthday ma. I am surprised, that despite the fact that you are a Tiv First Lady, the governor, who is your husband still went on to rename all Tiv settlements in Taraba State.
“I expect a stronger unity in the land instead of hatred. Darius Ishaku’s children are both Tiv and Jukun, and so are many other kids in Taraba.
“The hatred going on is unnecessary. We cannot allow few bad eggs to continue causing crisis in the land. We must live together as one family.”
Terver Burbwa, an engineer, described Mrs. Ishaku as a “great woman and rare gem.” He said: “Your Excellency, I celebrate you on this occasion of your 64th birthday anniversary. We are inspired.”
“Happy birthday ma. May the Lord grant you the wisdom to reunite Tiv and Jukun people,” wrote Targule Damian.
Jeff Gbise wrote: “If only Tiv people could see her in every Jukun person and the Jukun see her in every Tiv person, then we all would have made her a symbol of peace. Peace is a necessity. We all must seek ways of sustaining peace.”
The Taraba governor’s wife, described by many as a humble and God-fearing woman, is seen by Tiv as Esther —the biblical faithful and courageous daughter of Abihail, who married King Ahasuerus Darius of Persia, who saved her Jews brothers from massacre in 473 BC.
The Tiv are urging Anna to plead with Ishaku for Tiv and tell the governor what Esther told King Ahasuerus. Historians said, when the king asked Esther what was her wish, the queen answered: “My wish is that I and my people may live, because we are about to be destroyed and exterminated.”
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