Tor Tiv
{{Short description|Traditional ruler of Tiv people of Nigeria}}
Tor Tiv also known as Begha U Tiv (Lion of Tiv people) is the supreme traditional ruler / King / Monarch of the Tiv people.{{cite web |url=https://www.blueprint.ng/tor-tiv-one-year-throne/|title= Tor Tiv: One year on the throne |website=blueprint.ng |date=2018-07-05 |access-date=17 January 2020}} The stool was established in 1946 by the British colonial administration after they created the Tiv Central Council. Tor Tiv is the symbol of unity of the Tiv people. The seat is located in Gboko. The Tor Tiv is the head of Ijirtamen also known as the Tiv Traditional Council (TTC), the highest policy-making body in charge of the Tiv people. It comprises all the chiefs in Tiv land. The council sits at least once in a year.{{cite web |url=https://www.latestnigeriannews.com/news/4133391/history-of-kingship-in-tiv-land.html|title= History Of Kingship In Tiv Land
|website=latestnigeriannews.com |date=2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
The Tor Tiv, according to Tiv tradition, arbitrates disputes among Tiv people without impartiality, irrespective of economic, political and social status of the parties to a dispute.{{cite web |url=https://kapital929.fm/need-know-coronation-prof-james-ayatse-tor-tiv-fifth/|title= All You Need To Know About The Coronation Of Prof James Ayatse As Tor Tiv The Fifth
|website=kapital929.fm |date=2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
According to Section 16 (1) schedule 3 of the law establishing the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council, the Tor Tiv seat rotates among the two sons of Tiv, Ipusu and Ichongo, as the main ruling houses of the Tiv people. The Tor Tiv is also the chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/movie/201280/tor-tiv-stool-why-shitile-of-sankera-clan-deserves-the-thr.html|title= TOR TIV Stool : Why Shitile Of Sankera Clan Deserves The Throne
|website=thenigerianvoice.com |date=2015 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
The current Tor Tiv is James Ayatse.{{cite web |url=https://newsexpressngr.com/news/35438-Man-causes-stir-as-he-sits-on-Tor-Tivs-throne-during-coronation-ceremony?pr=37425&lang=en |title= Man causes stir as he sits on Tor Tiv's throne during coronation ceremony
|website= newsexpressngr.com |date=2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
The full title of the Tor Tiv is, His Royal Majesty, Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh, Prof Ortese Iorzua James Ayatse.{{cite web |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/tiv-people-marginalised-says-new-tor-tiv/ |title= Tiv people marginalised, says new Tor Tiv
|website= thenationonlineng.net |date=2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
Origin of the Tor Tiv Stool
The Tor Tiv institution emerged to satisfy the needs of the colonial administration and the yearnings of the Tiv people. The British were finding it difficult to administer the Tiv area which was as large as the Northern Emirates and had at different times placed Tiv land under different authorities outside Tiv land. Earlier attempts led to the creation of the Tiv Division, the establishment of a Tiv Central Council (Ijir Tamen) and Gboko as the headquarters of Tiv Division.
The Tiv on the other hand yearned for an institution of such because without it they had no effective representation in the colonial administration. This was made worse when Abinsi was made headquarters of the Tiv Council and a non-Tiv, Audu Dan Afoda, the chief of Makurdi was made head of it in 1927. This was resented by the few educated Tiv and chiefs.
After World War II, the agitations became pronounced with the return of Tiv soldiers like Makir Zakpe and Lawrence Igyuse Doki who served in the war. These young men in cooperation with the educated Tiv officials in the colonial service called for the creation of the Tor Tiv institution.{{cite book |last=Varvar |first=Toryina |editor-last=Anongu |editor-first=Lyam |title=Benue State in Perspective |publisher=Aboki Publishers |date=2005 |pages=3–20 |chapter=Chapter 1: Traditional and Political Developments among the Tiv |isbn=978-8098-22-3}}
The British for these reasons created the Tor Tiv institution in 1946.
=Early role of the Tor Tiv=
The Tor Tiv was subject to the control of colonial officials. He however assumed executive and judicial functions over Tiv land. He took charge of the collection of poll tax and the dissemination of information. He also presided over the Tiv Central Council (Ijir Tamen) in which capacity he acted as the Chief Judge of the division in customary as well as criminal cases.
List of Tor Tiv
- Makir Zakpe, Tor Tiv I (19 September 1946 to 11 October 1956){{cite web |url=https://tivpedia.org.ng/tiv-people-chief-makir-zakpe/ |title= Chief Makir Zakpe
|website= tivpedia.org.ng|date=2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
- Gondo Aluor, Tor Tiv II (12 December 1956 to 19 November 1978){{cite web |url=https://tivpedia.org.ng/tiv-people-chief-gondo-aluor/ |title= Chief Gondo Aluor
|website= tivpedia.org.ng|date=2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
- James Akperan Orshi, {{post-nominals|country=NGA|OON}}, Tor Tiv III (10 March 1979 to 16 October 1990){{cite web |url=https://tivpedia.org.ng/tiv-people-his-royal-highness-james-akperan-orshi/ |title= His Royal Highness James Akperan Orshi
|website= tivpedia.org.ng|date=2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
- Alfred Akawe Torkula, {{post-nominals|country=NGA|MFR}}, Tor Tiv IV (21 April 1991 – 22 November 2015){{cite web |url=https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/movie/201280/tor-tiv-stool-why-shitile-of-sankera-clan-deserves-the-thr.html |title= TOR TIV Stool : Why Shitile Of Sankera Clan Deserves The Throne
|website= thenigerianvoice.com |date=2015 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
- James Ayatse, Tor Tiv V (4 March 2017 – present){{cite web |url=https://punchng.com/photos-inauguration-of-tor-tiv-in-benue/ |title= PHOTOS: Coronation of Tor Tiv in Benue
|website= punchng.com |date=4 March 2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
Sacrilege of the Tor Tiv Stool
On 4 March 2017, during the coronation of James Ayatse as Tor Tiv V at JS Tarka Stadium in Gboko, a man, Stephen Nyitse outwitted the security officers and sat on the stool prepared for the coronation. Nyitse during interrogation said he sat on the stool to cleanse it for the incoming Tor Tiv and make it comfortable for him.{{cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/225188-abomination-man-sits-tor-tivs-stool-ahead-coronation.html |title= Abomination as man sits on Tor Tiv's stool ahead of coronation
|website= premiumtimesng.com |date=2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
The sacrilegist was later banished from Tivland by the Tiv Traditional Council (TTC) with instructions that no Tiv son or daughter must ever relate with him or help him.{{cite web |url=https://www.thecable.ng/man-sat-tor-tivs-throne |title= The man who sat on the Tor Tiv's throne |website= thecable.ng |date=2017 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
Stephen Nyitse was also sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of trespass and impersonating the Tor Tiv on 7 March 2017 by a magistrate court. Later, Tor Tiv V, James Ayatse applied for his pardon.{{cite web |url=https://punchng.com/tor-tiv-begs-for-pardon-for-man-serving-jail-term-for-sitting-on-royal-chair/ |title= Tor Tiv begs for pardon for man serving jail term for sitting on royal chair
|website= punchng.com |date=2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
|website= independent.ng |date=2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}
References
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