Benue Massacre Strengthens Calls For Restructuring –Wike

• Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says the age-old relationship between the people of Tiv ethnic nationality in Benue and Rivers states emboldens them to support each other when such a situation arises.

Wike said based on that conviction, he had visited Benue State to offer goodwill and support of other forms to the state government when there was a massacre of Tiv farmers by herdsmen in the state.

The governor stated this when he received a delegation of Tiv people living in Rivers State under the aegis of Mdzough U. Tiv, led by Mr Caleb Yashi, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

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A statement by Wike’s Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide accompanied the delegation of the Tiv people.

Wike, according to the statement, noted that people of both states also bore similar weight of the several shades of marginalisation meted out to minority tribes in the country amid calls for restructuring of the country.

He said, “I felt that what affects you also affects us. So, when that massacre took place in Tiv land, we believed that if anybody in Tiv land dies, an Ikwerre person will have to commiserate with their family.

That was why we decided to go and see my colleague and friend, the governor. Whatever we did that time, we believed it was because of the strong ties we have together.

“I know what my colleague, the current governor, passed through. I thank God that Benue people rallied round him to give him the necessary support.

Now, if you look back and remember what happened during that period, there is no way you’ll not constantly say this is the time to restructure this country.”

Wike noted that the Tiv people had not caused any problem for the state government and urged them to continue to live peacefully with people of their host communities.