The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State on Sunday criticized the Tiv Traditional Council for endorsing the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, for a second term.
Alia, who is serving his first term in office on the All Progressive Congress platform, received traditional blessings on Saturday during a meeting of the traditional rulers held at the palace of the Tiv nation’s supreme king.
The Tiv traditional council known as Ijir Tamen I Tiv (Supreme Council of the Tiv Nation), which met on Saturday and was chaired by the Supreme Leader of the Tiv Nation, James Ayatse, made far-reaching decisions.
One of the decisions was to endorse state governor Hyacinth Alia for a second term.
One of the resolutions reached at the meeting was, “The Council finally resolved, among other things, that Governor Alia should continue to govern the State until 2031.”
In attendance were all categories of Tiv traditional rulers, chieftaincy title holders in Tiv land, chairmen of local governments in Tiv land, certain state and national legislative members in Tiv land, political appointees, and other famous Tiv sons and daughters.
The Benue State chapter of the PDP, through its publicity secretary, Tim Nyor, expressed unhappiness with the Assembly of Tiv Traditional Rulers’ decision to approve the governor for a second term in office.
The PDP said that the development signified a significant divergence from the traditional institution’s holy neutrality and moral authority.
The statement, “The Tor Tiv, by virtue of his exalted throne, is regarded as a father to all, not a political campaigner or partisan actor. His duty is to unite, guide, and preserve the dignity of the Tiv nation, not to take sides with aspirants.
“By openly endorsing a sitting governor, the revered stool has been drawn into the murky waters of politics. Such conduct, if left unchecked, risks defiling the sanctity of the throne and eroding the trust, reverence, and moral weight that the Tiv traditional institution has commanded for generations.”
It also urged the Tor Tiv and the entire Ijir Tamen to stay away from partisanship and restore the impartiality and integrity of the traditional institution.
“The institution must never be reduced to a political instrument in the hands of the APC or any political organization whatsoever,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Hyacinth Alia, the state governor, thanked the Supreme Council of the Tiv Nation for endorsing him for a second term.
Alia mentioned this in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Terso.
He said, “This historic pronouncement and unique gesture, coming from the apex traditional authority of the Tiv Nation, is both humbling and deeply inspiring.
“It represents an overwhelming vote of confidence in my leadership, integrity, and the transformative strides already being witnessed across the state under my administration.”
