Home  News  Opinions  Special Sections  Columns  Features  Interviews  Advert Rates  About Us  Contact Us

SPECIAL REPORTS

          Tiv and Fulani reconciliation meeting
It was a memorable meeting when Tivs and their fulani brothers met to discuss on issues that could bring a permanent solution to their long standing misunderstanding  over grazing areas which in some cases led to violent clashes between the two tribes.
          The venue of the reconciliation meeting was Ananum village in Donga local government area of Taraba state and it was initiated by the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III and some Tiv prominent personalities including the Tiv paramount leader the TorTiv Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula.  Prior to the reconciliation meeting held at Ananum village, the Tivs who are mostly farmers and the Fulani herdmen had several encounter over grazing land, leading to the destruction of lives and properties.
          Taraba state with its rich agricultural land and vast grazing land provided a haven for the productive Tivs and Fulani herdmen who live side by side with one another.
          Tiv and Fulani have for ages remained good neighbours, the Tiv concerntrating on farm while the latter grazing but to the surprise of many, the existing relationship and good neighbourliness between the two started going sour because of friction which the elders of the two sides could have resolved through dialogue.
          Taraba state had it good share of such confrontation between the two ethnic groups who were refered to as play mates (Abokan Wasa)
          Disturbed by the increasing level of violence between the two tribes, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III initiated the reconciliation process and he was supported by Tiv prominent personalities.
          At the end of the day, a 35- members reconciliatory committee was appointed with the Sultan as the chairman and the Tor Tiv as the vice chairman. The committee is to ensure peace and stability among Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in the country.
          The peace meeting  initiated by the Sultan came at good time when the Taraba state resolved to ensure peace and stability among all the ethnic groups in the state.
         Governor Danbaba Suntai welcomed the initiative and assured of his support at all time for sustainable peace and stability in the state.
          The Sultan of Sokoto committee on Tiv farmers and Fulani cattle rearers relationship in Taraba state was headed by a Tiv prominent personality elder Teghtegh Saka’a.
          The elder Teghtegh Saka’a committee was responsible for the organization of the peace meeting at Ananum.
          The Gara of Donga who is a first class chief in the area was represented by the district head of Donga Malam Barau Yebuga, others are the Permanent Secretary Government House Jalingo, Mr. Danis Orkumw Nev.
          Others also include prominent Fulani members, traditional rulers from across Wukari, Ibi and Takum local government areas.
          Speakers at the forum cautioned themselves not to allow detractors of the two ethnic groups who have been very friendly with themselves for ages to take arms against themselves.
          An elderly Tiv man Mr Tabasima said the relationship between Tiv farmers and the Fulani herdsmen existed for many decades and wondered why such relationship is going sour now.
          He said the two should always embrace dialogue and report cases of misunderstanding to elders among them instead of resorting to violence as the case is in recent time.
          A Fulani herdsmen, Malam Ardo Buba said the Tiv and Fulani have been good neighbours, play mates and also contribute to nation- building.
          According to him, the Tiv provide the food stuff to consuming public while the Fulani herdsmen provide meat and milk which is required by every individual .
          However, the subject matter at the meeting was identification of factors leading to persistent violent clashes between the Tiv and the Fulani and solution to the problem.
          Some of the measures adopted for the realization of the peace process include, the setting up of similar committee in seven local government areas with Tiv and Fulani population.
          The local government areas includes Wukari, Takum, Donga, Bali , Ibi, Gassol and Gashaka.
          It was also revolved that such reconciliation meeting should be held regularly there while elders should have total control and observe their youths as it was alleged that youths from both side were responsible for the escalation of such conflicts and violence.
          The state coordinator and leader of the peace committee elder Teghtegh Saka’a observed in his address to the meeting with concern the devastating consequences of the rampant ethnic crisis between the Tiv and other tribes in the state.
          He explained that the deliberate intention and the propelling force behind the sultan’s peace initiative was to revive the age long relationship between the Tiv and the Fulani which predates the nation independence.
          Elder Saka’a further stressed the need for peaceful coexistence between the two groups. He also called for the support and co-operation of all traditional rulers, religious leaders to ensure that a permanent peace and stability is restored between the two ethnic groups.
          Elder Saka’a also commended Governor Danbaba Suntai for restoring peace and stability in the state and also expressed the  satisfaction of Tiv and Fulani for the governor’s support and assistance towards the success of the peace committee in the state.
          In his remark, the Permanent Secretary Government House Jalingo, Mr. Denis Orkuma Nev applauded the Sultan of Sokoto peace initiative and urged leaders of Tiv and Fulani to respect the resolutions adopted at the meeting.
          He said that Governor Danbaba Suntai zero tolerance for violence and his hope investment in security are commendable and sustainable. According to him, no meaningful development will be achieved without peace and stability.
          The Gara of Donga who spoke through the district head of Donga, Malam Barau Yebuga also commended the peace initiative and encouraged all leaders to proclaim and spread the peace message to their people.
          It could be recalled that the inaugural meeting of the main committee which has 35 members was held in Abuja last month. At that meeting, central committees were setup to make inquiries and report their findings to the main committee in order to fashion out a way forward on peaceful coexistence between the two communities.
          With the royalty attached to the committee and the historical antecedents of the Fulani, Tiv ethnic tribe, it will be expected that the crisis between the two groups will soon be resolved and a new Era of friendship, understanding and good neigbourliness be ushered in.