PRESS RELEASE BY TARABA STATE TIV YOUTH FORUM ON THE CONSTITUTION OF A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE CRISES BETWEEN TIV AND THEIR NEIGBOURING COMMUNITIES IN TARABA STATE AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO BY ARC. DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU HELD AT NO.13, BEHIND NAF CONFERENCE CENTRE, KADO, ABUJA, NIGERIA ON 14TH JULY, 2020
Gentlemen of the Press,
It is our pleasure to address you once again on the protracted crisis between Tiv and Jukun in Taraba State, Nigeria. It may interest you to note that, on the 13th July, 2020, the Governor of Taraba State, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, citing Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, Cap. 34 Laws of Taraba State, 1997 constituted a Commission of Inquiry into the Crises between Tiv and their neigbouring Communities in Taraba State and other related matters thereto. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded to this recent development owing to the fact that we are a group of positive peace lovers and advocates of social justice. However, we are compelled to address the press because of our firm belief that “a house built on a faulty foundation is indeed a death trap in the waiting”.
1. On the 13th July, 2020, in a brief state wide broadcast, Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku announced the constitution of a Commission of Inquiry into the Crises between Tiv and their neigbouring Communities in Taraba State and other related matters thereto.
2. We wish to state that, the caption of this commission is not only mischievous and vague but it is also confusing and aimed at portraying the Tiv people of Taraba State as trouble makers who are at war with their neighbours. We want to categorically state that, the Tiv people of Taraba State particularly, the Southern Taraba are currently enjoying a cordial relationship with all other ethnic nationalities in Southern Taraba except the Jukuns who have continually engaged the Tiv people in open hostilities with the aim of totally evicting the Tiv people out of Taraba State.
3. The first term of reference of the commission is to examine the remote and immediate causes of the crises between Tiv and people living in communities of Wukari, Takum, Donga, Ibi, Ussa, Gassol and Bali Local Government Areas or any other part of or in any other location within Taraba State from 1991 to date.
4. Again we are not surprise because Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku been a poor student of research and in case his handlers have not told him, there are similar commissions and committees that were previously constituted. These commissions and committees have submitted reports with far reaching recommendations that if properly implemented are capable of bring about lasting positive peace between Tiv and Jukun and even other ethnic nationalities in Taraba State, particularly Southern Taraba.
5. We also wish to state that, in case Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku is not aware, the main cause of this protracted crisis is simply because his Jukun kinsmen have refused to accept the fact that, Tiv are bonafide indigenes of Taraba State. The Jukuns have continually denied the Tiv people access to their ancestral farm lands, elective positions (both at the local, state and national levels), traditional and chieftaincy stools and many other opportunities. It is however worthy to note that according to the 1946 population census conducted by the colonial masters in former Wukari Division which is presently made up of: Wukari, Ibi, Takum, Donga and Ussa local government areas of Taraba State, the Tiv had the highest population size of 37% with the Jukun having a paltry population size of 10%. (Nigeria National Archives Kaduna, NAK/MAK/PROF/4377)
6. It is natural that all things being equal, the Tiv people who were the majority in 1946, after 74 years today CANNOT be the minority. The Tiv people who had previously contested and won Local Government Chairmanship and legislative seats to represent Wukari Division in both State and National Assembly are suddenly relegated to the background. THIS IS INJUSTICE TOO FAR.
7. The second term of reference of the commission according to Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku is to examine and identify cases of banditry, kidnapping and other vices related to or arising from within the border communities and their relationship with the crises, if any.
8. This is also laughable. The police authorities and other security agencies are already doing alot in the arrest of kidnappers and armed bandits in Taraba State. This is evidently clear in the arrest of Wadume, Fusky and their accomplice in Southern Taraba State. Why is the Governor adamant about the kidnappings in Jalingo, the State capital, Sunkani, Lau, Karim and Garba Chede? Is Jalingo, the State capital, Sunkani, Lau, Karim and Garba Chede border communities? Is this commission taking over the role of police in Taraba State? These and many other similar questions are waiting for Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku’s response.
9. The fourth term of reference of the commission is to identify individuals or groups that might have contributed or instigated the crises and recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary.
10. The Taraba State Tiv Youth Forum have repeatedly presented documentary evidences of individuals and organisations who have made donations both in cash and materials to prosecute this crisis between Tiv and Jukun in Southern and part of Central Taraba. Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku has deliberately refused to act on these documents only for him to turn around and mandate a Commission of Inquiry to identify individuals or groups that might have contributed or instigated this crisis.
11. Furthermore, the trio of Daniel Adigrace, Shiban Tikari and Nashuka Ipeyen including Bako Benjamin are at the forefront of instigating this protracted crisis between Tiv and Jukun since 1st April, 2019. Rather than sanctioning these individuals, the Governor rather encouraged them with appointments as Local Government Chairmen for Wukari, Takum and Donga LGAs. Bako Benjamin is the President of Jukun Development Association of Nigeria (JDAN), an association that Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku is a major financier.
12. We want to conclude this press release by posing the following questions for Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku
(a) Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku has repeatedly said that this crisis is an internal affair of the state that does not require external interference. Why has he decided to constitute a commission of inquiry? Has he discovered that the crisis is no longer an internal affair?
(b) What has happened to the reports of several committees constituted by Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku since the beginning of this crisis on 1st April, 2019? Does he no longer have confidence in the reports of these committees?
(c) Why has Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku refused to visit the people displaced as a result of this crisis since 1st April, 2019?
(d) Do Darius Dickson Ishaku have the power to set a commission of enquiry to turn down the report of a commission of enquiry that was set-up by federal government in 1991 and 2003 and what was wrong with their recommendations?
(e) Why is the governor afraid to mention the Tiv neighbours in his document whom they are fighting?
13. Gentlemen of the press, we don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of this Commission of Inquiry. However, we want to reiterate that, if the foundation upon which this commission is inaugurated is faulty, then the outcome may be nothing to take home.
Thank you and mayGod bless you all.
Katyo Aondona
National President
Taraba State Tiv Youth Forum
