The Tiv Traditional Council today honoured one of their illustrious son Mr Orngu Mela, the Clerk Taraba state house of Assembly in an event organized by the Council of Tiv Traditional Rulers of Taraba State.
Theevent which took place at the Jalingo resident of the celebrant in the Capital city of Taraba State was well attended by colleagues, family, friends and dignitaries accrose all works of life.
The Leader of the Tiv Traditional Council, HRH Chief David Gbaa Tela, the Ter Bali (II) in his speech said the honour bestowed on their son Mr Orngu Mela was the first of it’s kind in the history of the Council and said that the honour was due as Mr Orngu Mela whom God has uplifted to the peak of his career in the Civil service has distingushed and identify himself as a decent and true son of the Tiv and the state at large at several dispositions.
The Ter Bali (II) disclosed that many of therir sons have attained the peak of their careers in the past without recognition of this kind but stated that honour is given to whom is due.
“I want to appeal to our sons and daughters who have attained this peak in the past but were not recognized this way not to feel bad but consider this as an act of God, He appealed.
He thanked the Executive governor of Taraba State Arc Darius Dickson Ishaku for considering Mr Orngu worthy of the appointment in such a critical position even as he appealed to the governor/government of Taraba State to continue to work with the Tiv people and to ensure that the Tiv’s and other tribs who are involved in crisis should be called upon on an unbiased platform for dialogue to end the needless to feud.
“What we need today is peace and unity of purpose for development and inclusive growth for our collective good. I therefore, on behalf of the Tiv Traditional Rulers’ Council of Taraba State once again condemn the needless crisis in the southern part of the State and called for restraint by Jukun and Tiv for the peace and development of the zone.
“Even at the international scence, wars don’t end in the battle fields, but on the dialogue table. We want to call on the government, the Church, reputable Civil Society groups and the Taraba State Traditional Council among others to voluntarily provide an unbiased platform for dialogue where both parties will come to negotiate with open mind to end the needless feud.
“I also want to urge all Tiv people in Taraba State and beyond to return to God in prayers for peace to reign in our hearts, homes and land. He submitted.
In his good will message, Hon, Dr, Mark Bako congratulated the celebrant Mr Orngu Mela whom he referred to as his elder brother and affirmed that the Clerk indeed deserved the honour.
“I want to say that, Mr Mella is a gentle, truthful, honest, sincerely, dependable, patriotic and a reliable servant and my prayer is that he will go beyond this position”.
Hon. Mark however called on the good people of Taraba State to embrace peace as it is the only window to development.
Elder Angyu also descried the celebrant as a committed and hard-working person and also said that he believed Mella has reached the peak of his career in the Civil service as a result of his hardwork and dedication.
Referring to the Tiv group as Tarabans, Elder Simon Angyu also called on Tarabans to shun violence and accommodate peace as a society can only attract development when there is peace.
“I want to use this opportunity, like our Excellency will always say ‘ Give me peace and I will give you development’, I want to use this forum as we have all gathered here, whether we like it or not we are all Tarabans and God has kept us here for a purpose and so we all most pursue peace. He
stated.
The celebrant, Mr Orngu in his speech acknowledged the cooperation and understanding he has enjoyed from honourable members and the paliamentarians of the house and however pledged to remain grateful.
The Clerk in an interview also disclosed to journalists that he’s overwhelmed by the honour bestowed upon him by his people and also called on the younger generation to be patient in pursuit of their various choosing careers.
In respond to a question Mr Orngu, states the need for the Taraba state government to ensure that all these displaced are taking care of appropriately.
Story By James Ugo
