Tor Tiv Tasks Benue Stakeholders On 2023 Census

Tiv Supreme Council Assembly known as Ijirtamen during its meeting in Gboko, presided over by its president and Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Prof James Ortese has charged traditional rulers, religious leaders, party chieftains and all the stakeholders to mobilise people for the 2023 National Census.

 This is even as the council also condemned the “well-coordinated, unwarranted and deliberate attack on Governor Samuel Ortom by a group led by the former Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, describing it as incitement.”

The Tor Tiv who is also the Benue State chairman Council of Chiefs charged Benue indigenes to cooperate with the officials and staff of National Population Commission (NPC) during the exercise to ease their work.

The council as well cautioned against violence, thuggery and other sharp practices during electioneering campaigns and voting in the general election.

 A statement by the special assistant to Tor Tiv on media/ICT, Freddie Adamgbe said the council expressed happiness with the Nasarawa State Government and traditional council in taking timely actions to arrest the killing of Tiv people and the destruction of their property. It  called on the Nasarawa State government to facilitate the return of Tiv people displaced due to the attack on their homes by providing the needed relief and protection.

 While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for deploying security agents to checkmate banditry and terrorism in Benue and Nasarawa states the council also called for numerical and technical reinforcement.

 The council admonished all Tiv sons and daughters to close ranks and face the common security and economic challenges threatening them and continue to be law abiding even in the face of provocations. The council also condemned in strong terms what it referred to as well coordinated, unwarranted and deliberate attack on Governor Samuel Ortom by a group led by the deposed Emir of Kano.

 “We call on the group to desist forthwith from further attack on the governor but rather embrace patriotism and focus on issues that will foster the unity and coexistence of all than incitement of one group against another.

“The council expresses its strong support for governor Ortom over the issue of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranchers Establishment Law of 2017 as a way of ending perennial conflicts between farmers and herdsmen,” the council said.