Tor Tiv Confers Chieftaincy Titles On Wike, Three Govs, Others

The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, yesterday, conferred chieftaincy titles on four serving governors, the Speaker, House of Representatives and two others for their outstanding contributions to the development of the Tiv nation.
The recipients were Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike; Sokoto State Governor, Hon Aminu Tambuwal; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; and Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Others were the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; former Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN); and a retired Provost, College of Medical Sciences, Benue State University, Prof. Shima Gyoh.
Performing the ceremony at his palace in Gboko, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, said that the tittles reflected the relationship between the recipients and the Tiv people.
He said the conferment of the chieftaincy tittles was a continuation of the reformation of the Tiv culture that started in 1994.
He said the recipients were drawn across all works of life in recognition of their assistance to the Tiv people over the years.
The Tor Tiv said all the recipients were automatic ambassadors of the Tiv nation.
“This is in continuation of the reformation of the Tiv culture that started in 1994. The recipients are drawn across all works of life, different backgrounds, professions and religions.
“We are not politicians; we do things as fathers. Henceforth, you are ambassadors of the Tiv nation,” he declared.
For Wike, Ayatse said, the tittle was in honour of his continual support for the Tiv people while Ugwuanyi’s title reflected his good neighbourliness.
Ayatse said Tambuwal was recognised for the continual help he had rendered to Tiv people, especially in securing employment for them.
He said Sule was recognised for protecting all his people, especially the Tiv indigenes in Nasarawa while Gbajabiamila was honoured for being a helper of the Tiv nation.
The royal father said Agabi was honoured for being a companion of the Tiv nation while Gyoh was recognised for being a healing balm to the Tiv nation.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, Tambuwal pledged that they would be worthy ambassadors of the Tiv nation.
The governor said the recipients would continue to work together to establish peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
The recipients were present except Gbajabiamila and Agabi while Sule was represented by the state Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Philip Dada.