Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has enjoined the Tiv nation to leverage its rich cultural heritage to build bridges of unity and peaceful coexistence with other ethnic nationalities.
Sule made the call at the Tiv Day celebration and fund raising for the building of the Tiv Development Association (TIDA) Secretariat, on Sunday in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
Represented by Yakubu Lawal, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Sule charged Tiv nation in Nasarawa to be tolerant and live in harmony with other ethnic nationalities in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
The governor said that his administration would continue to promote peace and initiate good polices and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.
Also speaking, Retired Justice Sidi Bage , Emir of Lafia and the Chairman Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, stressed the need for peaceful coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in the state for development to thrive.
The traditional rulers said that he would work to ensure that the Tiv nation in the state gets a chiefdom in order to have a representative in the traditional rulers council.
On his part, Sen. Jacob Gyado, the Guest Speaker at the occasion, urged Tiv people to continue to be law abiding, live in peace and unity with their neighbours.
Gyado commended Gov. Sule’s purposeful leadership and love for Tiv people, while urging them to support his administration to succeed beyond 2023.
“From today let nobody come and distract you, you are indigenes of Nasarawa state, first from Plateau, now Nasarawa, this kind of adjustment affected many people, you must be law abiding and support the government,” he said.
Earlier, Comrade Peter Ahemba, President Tiv Development Association (TIDA), said the cultural day was an annual event where Tiv sons and daughters in the state and beyond come together to discuss the unity, peace and development of the Tiv nation.
He commended Gov. Sule for being proactive in dealing decisively with the security threats in the state, which he said had not only brought peace to Nasarawa-south but all parts the state.
Ahemba, however, appealed to the governor to expedite action for the quick return of the remaining internally displaced persons to return to their homes and continue with their economic activities as the rains begin.
“To whom much is given, much is expected, the administration of Gov. Abdullahi Sule has given so much to Tiv people. To this end, be rest assured of our continued support to the peoples’ oriented policies and programmes of your administration,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Sule was honoured with the traditional title of “Zege mule -u- Tiv,” (great shelter of Tiv).
Other awardees are Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, Jacob Gyado, Sen. George Akume, Joseph kigbu, Emmanuel Jime, Mbawuese Tsuwa among others.(NAN)
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