Tiv Association Advocates Peace Among Warring Leaders in Nasarawa State

The Tiv Development Association (TIDA), an umbrella body of the Tiv indigenes of Nasarawa State, has called on two of its illustrious sons, Hon. Boniface Ifer and Hon. Peter Ahemba, to urgently resolve their differences for the interest of their kinsmen and the state at large.

Ifer and Ahemba, both former Presidents of TIDA, had been in the news for their stern disagreements concerning issues affecting Tiv people in the state.

Ifer had accused Ahemba of not showing concern for the challenges that his kinsmen were facing in the state due to his recent appointment as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Abdullahi Sule, but Ahemba insisted that he had played his role as a worthy stakeholder of the Tiv nation, and also as an appointee of the Nasarawa State government.

Reacting to the development in a statement made available to Journalists in Lafia, the current President of TIDA in the state, Hon. Solomon Chunku, called on both Tiv stakeholders to immediately stop the lingering altercations in order not to cause disharmony among Tiv people in the state.

“I frown at this because as a leader who is interested in the unity of his people despite their political differences, I do not take delight in the attack of individuals for partisan reasons.

“Every Nigerian citizen has the right to freedom of Association but must practice moral and ethical values that can foster the unity of the people rather than dividing them.

“Let it be known that TIDA will continue to maintain a neutral ground in the affairs of our people, and as an association, we have commenced moves to bring the aggrieved parties together to seek dialogue among them.

“We, therefore, call on the general public to disregard any partisan publication purported to have emanated from the office of the TIDA President. It should be noted that the document did not emanate from my office and I did not authorize anyone to do so,” the statement read in part.

The TIDA President, therefore, urged all Tiv indigenes in the state to remain calm, while assuring that the misunderstanding between both leaders, Ifer and Ahemba, will be addressed in the shortest possible time.