By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Tiv Youth Advancement Vanguard (TYAV) has called on the members of the Benue State PDP caucus in the National Assembly to stop forthwith from politicizing the lingering misunderstanding between the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume and the Tiv Traditional council.
It would be recalled that the Tiv Traditional Council had summoned Sen Akume to appear before it for his alleged uncomplimentary and derogatory remarks against the person and office of the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse.
But TYAV, in a statement signed by its convener, Tyohemba Denen, particularly warned Senators Gabriel Suswam and Abba Moro to concentrate on clearing their names on corruption charges against them rather than trying to cause disaffection between the Minister and the Tiv traditional council.
According to the statement, the group said “We have read with sadness a communiqué signed by all the members of the Benue State PDP caucus of the National Assembly and presented to the press by Sen. Abba Moro on the lingering misunderstanding between Sen. George Akume and the Tiv Traditional council.
“TYAV has enormous respect for the Tiv Traditional Council led by HRM Prof. James Ayatse and will not encourage any denigration of the stool.
“We will not also accept a situation where non tribe man will be recruited to attack a prominent Tiv son. We have however watched with utter consternation how the issue involving the Tor Tiv and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Sen George Akume, has been hijacked by the PDP in the State as can be seen in the press release by the Benue PDP caucus in the National Assembly.
“We have information that the PDP intends to sponsor more protests against Sen George Akume to score cheap political goals in the coming days. Tiv Youth Advancement Vanguard condemns very firmly the dragging of the Tiv traditional council into the politics of PDP and the recruitment of Sen. Abba Morro, a non-tribe to insult and ridicule a highly respected son of Tiv land, Sen George Akume”, the statement said.
