The Tiv / Jukun crisis has persisted for so long. We have lost thousands
of precious lives and immeasurable property and resources. Many are
maimed for life or living in displacement. Tens of thousands of
children have been orphaned by conflict and millions of our fellow
citizens now face threats of starvation in the face of rising food
security. Our society has been degraded far beyond anybody’s
imagination. It seems there is no end to our disillusions and
predicaments.
History teaches us that since the creation of man,the human race lived
with violence and conflicts. In the biblical Book of (Genesis 4:1-8
KJV), Cain and Abel are the first two sons of Adam and Eve between whom
the first human conflict and violence started, which led to the death of
one of the two brothers ,since then violence never ceased.
Violence will always occur till the end of time. However, all subsequent
conflicts and violence since Cain and Abel ended at one point or the
other. All the horrendous wars, battles, expeditions in what ever form
ended at some points and human kind were able to embrace peace and
lived together.
Violence is a free commodity. Nobody has exclusive right to possess and
perpetrate violence. Even the most peaceful and the most pious may be
cajoled to indulge in violent activities. In Taraba state the
Tivs/Jukuns have lived with violence and destruction for so long to the
extend that our people are no longer afraid of violence. We are more and
more becoming immuned to death and destruction. The Tivs/Junkuns live
side by side with violence, they walk through violence, and are now
taking instability for granted.
Since 1959 to date, our children and grandchildren were either born into
or grew up in violent circumstances. Beyond that, since the advent of
party politics in 1998, thousands of our youths were recruited in
violence as political vanguards and thugs.
When violent broke out between the Tivs/ Jukuns in year 2000, the two
ethnic groups did not find it difficult to recruit their adherents
because of the availability of readymade violent elements. The
knowledge, culture, tradition, custom, costumes and attitudes of a child
are reflected in what he watches and observes while growing up. Today,
many of our children see nothing wrong in negative behaviors. Many of
them are savering relationship with their communities. Disrespect to
elders, constituted authorities and rudeness to parents are most
prevalent.
It is apparent that all the good deeds, struggles, and all that hold
dear as a people are at the verge of extinction.
Therefore, we must understand and appreciate our unfortunate state of
existence and change for peace and peaceful coexistence. It is the only
panacea for us as a people. We must individually and collectively
swallow our prides, primodial considerations and preconceived positions
in order to reach out to all violence proned individuals and groups to
convince them to embrace peace. It is difficult but nothing is
impossible with the intervention of the Almighty God.
As stated earlier, there were no permanent wars or conflicts. Wars and
conflicts must end at a point. And peace is always attained when a
common ground is accepted by both the victims and the aggressors.
Unabated aggression claims more victims and expands to consume humanity.
Ours should not be an exception.
We must bring an end to all forms of conflict, violence and
destructions.
For now we have lost our precious, cherished and beloved sons and
daughters in all spheres of life- our soldiers, police, SSS, Civil
Defence etc and indeed thousands of innocent people who knew next to
nothing as to why they died.
The surest way to end the Tivs/Jukuns conflicts is for the two groups to
have a rethink and deeply reflect on the consequences of their
activities to their motherland.
They must retrace their steps back to peace and peaceful co-habitation.
The Tivs/Jukuns must know that conflicts must and need to end at a point
in time. It is needless to continue to suffer in the bush inflicting
death, destruction and hardship on your own people.
The Tivs/Jukuns must be reminded and guided to accept that all of us
have equal stake and rights in Taraba state.
Taraba state is collective project, we must stop hate speeches, threats
to one another, accept our common humanity and heritage. We must live
together in peace and progress. God Almighty in His infinite mercies and
wisdom created us in Taraba state, and we are Tarabians. It is not by
choice but divinely ordained.
To be continued..
Citizen John Akevi
07037017010