A Tribute To The Lion Of Tiv, His Majesty Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula Tor Tiv IV

SEN. AMB. PROFESSOR IYORWUESE HAGHER. OON. FSONTA. FIMC.

The Begha ( Lion) of Tiv nation, His Majesty Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula is no more! On November 23, 2016, he embarked on, a long one-way, journey to the land of “Alugbem.”He now joins his ancestors and fellow kings of Tiv Kingdom, their Majesties, Makeri Dzape, Gondo Aluor, and Akperan Orshi, on the great high way, “Kumun u tamen.” “Aondo a ver Tor”.

“Begha u Tiv” Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula was an uncommon King. He reigned for 24 years, much longer than any of his predecessors. During his reign, he stamped his imposing personality, his lofty sense of duty, and scrupulous dedication to Tiv traditions and culture, on his domain and beyond. He was and remains a colossus amongst the kings and chiefs of Nigeria.

He traversed his domain and beyond with circumspect royal diplomacy, bringing peace and healing when and where strife, conflicts and wars broke out between his beloved Tiv people and their neighbors. He had a commanding personality and dominated space, not just with his stage presence in Bantu lion skin paraphernalia, he exuded both aloofness and charm. “Begha” was intimidating, yet he elicited warmth and beckoning humility.

He was different. He was King and philosopher. He was a highly schooled monarch, such as was desired by Plato and Aristotle who in their time had demanded that, “ unless philosophers become kings and those whom we call kings become philosophers there can be no end to evils for the cities nor the human race.”

The “Begha” was a scholar and a quintessential participant researcher. He imbibed and represented the true essence of Tiv manhood. He was bold and fearless, frank, gregarious, outspoken and totally without pretenses. He delved into intellectual discourse with relish. His books on “Tiv cosmology and world view”, Tiv gender, “ Tiv burial customs” as well as “ Presidential democracy in Nigeria”, and “The Culture of Partisan politics in Nigeria” attests to his erudition and appetite for palace scholarship.

LEGACY

Tor Tiv the fourth left a hefty and robust legacy. He lavishly transformed the tone and contours of traditional stools in Tivland and Benue, where he chaired the state traditional council. He expanded the number of traditional stools in Tivland, as well as established new protocols and regalia. He introduced new diplomatic protocols in the award of honorific chieftaincy awards to Tiv sons and friends of Tiv in Nigeria and abroad.

He relentlessly pursued peace within Tivland and between the Tiv and their neighbors. He expanded Tiv consciousness beyond Tiv and Nigerian borders. As Grand patron of the “Mzough u Tiv”, the Pan- Tiv Organization, Begha was at home in the U.K., Europe, the United States and Mexico where he travelled each year to inspire the diaspora Tiv to be true to their heritage.

PERSONAL LOSS.

I knew the Lion of Tiv. He was my Royal father, friend and intellectual colleague. We came a long way back in time to when we served in the Benue-Plateau and Benue public service. But the best time we had together was during my sojourn as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico. He honored me with royal visits, during which time we spent long hours together away from home. At each occasion he would come with his wife the Queen mother, and together with my wife Nancy Ngiahiin, we would form a new Tiv community in Latin America. We had the best quality time together, as we pondered on serious philosophical questions affecting the world, Nigeria and particularly Tivland. He had an unusual sense of humor and a keen desire to learn all the time. In 2006, I was taken completely by surprise, when we went to visit some Tiv university students in Cuarnavaca in Mexico and the “Begha” suddenly started dishing out Spanish phrases he had been quietly studying, when he addressed the audience. He was indeed a gifted polyglot.

In 2014, I strongly disagreed with him on his proposal to yet expand the first class chieftaincy stools in Benue state amidst dwindling state resources and other vectors. We also disagreed on his being used by the Benue political class to become steeply politically partisan. When I took the disagreement on the creation of new 1st class chiefs to the State Assembly, suddenly third party hatchet men descended on me and also goading him, to declare war against me. He warded them off and reminded them I was not to be trifled with, and they backed off. We remained father, son and friend till he was no more!

A few weeks to his demise in late October 2016, I received a phone call from a respected Tiv leader Senator Waku. It was at the instance of his Majesty. We spoke for several minutes. His Majesty was keenly interested in my welfare and my practice in the United States. He reaffirmed to me his commitment to work for peace among the Tiv sons and between the Tiv and their neighbors. This was his dream, supreme goal and passion. In his Majesty’s worldview there was no price too high to be paid for peace. I remembered that twice he would have been killed when he stood in harms way trying to appease feuding parties in Benue and Nassarawa States. I also remembered that when the Obasanjo government in 2001, set the army against the Tiv as they were being hounded to death in Central Nigeria, His
Majesty had called on me to be the Secretary of the Committee for Conflict Resolution and Reconciling the Tiv with their neighbors. This assignment was concluded to his satisfaction.

I was shocked, when barely a month later, after our phone conversation, I received another call from Chicago. It was, again, Wan Begha u Tiv, Senator JKN.Waku. In trepidation and hushed whisper Waku told me that the Begha was no more! His shocking and sudden departure is a personal loss. It is also a lesson that life is short and this short human life is only meaningful when we serve God and humanity.

CHALLENGES

The main challenge to the reign of the “Begha” was the swirling tempo of changes that engulfed the Nigerian State. Soldiers came and went. Politicians came, stayed, and changed parties, then became friends or enemies. It was so challenging to keep pace with this tsunami of change. A proliferation of illegal arms in Nigeria found its way into Tivland. Small family disagreements flared into communal fights and destruction leaving in their wake, several dead victims, razed homes and vandalized properties. Then came the Fulani militia invasions of Tivland, the challenge he spent most of the latter part of his life to address.

“ Begha’s” biggest challenge was political disagreement between Tiv sons who had become rich and powerful from public service. It was not to the Tor Tiv’s credit that he bowed to pressure and had to do the exclusive biddings of the government in power. This pitted him against the then opposition politicians, who derided him openly for being fragrantly, politically partisan. With hindsight the blame should go to the 1999 Constitution where traditional rulers have no significant role to play and so become victims of poor choices made by the governments in power in order to survive.

CONCLUSION

I must conclude this tribute to my king, father and friend. He was a special breed. He will be remembered for his fearless commitment to peace and Tiv unity. He will also be remembered for his lofty standards and enduring structures that have raised the bar of traditional ruler ship in Benue. He will be remembered for diplomacy and peacemaking. Above all else, he will be remembered for his love of Tivland and Nigeria. He lived and died so that we may live in a better world. In his last days, he demonstrated a rare quality of leadership. Humility! He visited and called most Tiv sons whom he felt he had somewhat offended to apologize to them. He also forgave those who offended him. May God almighty forgive him as well, and give him rest.

I call on all Tiv people, men and women, young and old and all Nigerians, the ruled and the rulers. Let us rise above the passions of the moment to look ahead, to be builders and reformers of our communities and our nation. Let us seize the moment while there is life in our bodies to lay solid foundations for an enduring future for the coming generations. This is the future that encompasses a full life, liberty, justice and real happiness.

Aondo a ver Begha u Tiv sha Kumun u Tamen. Begha a lu bem bem sha Alugbem.