Gov. Ishaku pledges to return Tiv IDPs to their ancestral homes
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
The Executive Governor of Taraba State, Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku has pledged that his administration would do everything possible to ensure that all the Internally Displaced Tarabans of Tiv indigenes who are taking refuge in different places are repatriated into their ancestral homes.
The governor made this pledge while speaking at the occasion of the Annual Tiv Day celebration held at Adamu Primary School, Angwan Tiv, Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State.
The Governor who stated that Conflict benefit nobody but war mongers who profit from the sale of unlawful weapons of devastation, also pledged that his administration would continue to collaborate with all those who are knowledgeable in peace and reconciliation efforts in order to get more enduring peace within each Chiefdom and even each settlement in Taraba State.
“Let me tell this association that my administration is determine to repatriate all the displaced Tarabans that are Tiv indigenes into their ancestral homes to rebuild their homes and contribute constructively to the state development.
“The fact that we inter married. The fact that we stay with one another and share practically same political viewpoint shows that we must remain peaceful as one entity. We have over 87 ethnic nationalities in Taraba State and well over 4 or 5 religions and as such, except we accommodate one another, we will not be able to accommodate all the ethnic groups in the state”.
“However, when we give peace a chance and allow the law of the land to prevail, we will certainly do well by living peacefully with one another”. He stated.
While applauding the efforts of the Tiv Cultural and Social Association, under the leadership of Comr. Joshua Ayagwa towards restoring peace among the Tiv community and their neighbors in Taraba State, the Governor noted that with the effort of the association, Security Agencies in the state have arrested many gun runners and are pursuing those that are still on a run.
The Governor who received Award of an Icon of Peace from the Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA) at the event, said the award had given him confidence and hope that all is not lost but that the Tiv Community had appreciated the sincerity of his administration towards bringing an end to the conflict through a round table discussion.
He expressed confidence that the perennial crisis between the Tiv and their Jukun brothers which predates his administration would be resolved amicably to give way for peace to reign permanently in the state.
“I am with a positive perspective that my administration has deployed all dispute resolutions from the start to ensure that this problem that predates my arrival is handled to the satisfaction of all the parties. Therefore, I urged the leadership of this Excellent Association not to give up on its efforts but to continue to work towards installing long time peace in the state”. He added.
