Tor Tiv also known as Begha U Tiv (Lion of Tiv people) is the supreme traditional ruler / King / Monarch of the
Tiv people
Tiv (or Tiiv) are a Tivoid ethnic group. They constitute approximately 2.4% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Tiv language is spoken by about 5 million people in ...
. 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
Tiv (or Tiiv) are a Tivoid ethnic group. They constitute approximately 2.4% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Tiv language is spoken by about 5 million people in ...
. The seat is located in
Gboko
Gboko is a town in the Benue State of North-central Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. ...
. 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. 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.
According to Section 16 (1) schedule 3 of the law establishing the
Benue State
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the 7 states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is t ...
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
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the 7 states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is t ...
Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council.
The current Tor Tiv is
James Ayatse. The full title of the Tor Tiv is, His Royal Majesty, Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh, Prof Ortese Iorzua James Ayatse.
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
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the agitations became pronounced with the return of Tiv soldiers 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.
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
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Makir Dzakpe, Tor Tiv I (19 September 1946 to 11 October 1956)
*
Gondo Aluor, Tor Tiv II (12 December 1956 to 19 November 1978)
*
James Akperan Orshi, , Tor Tiv III (10 March 1979 to 16 October 1990)
*
Alfred Akawe Torkula, , Tor Tiv IV (21 April 1991 – 22 November 2015)
*
James Ayatse, Tor Tiv V (4 March 2017 – present)
Sacrilege of the Tor Tiv Stool
On 4 March 2017, during the coronation of
James Ayatse as Tor Tiv IV 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. 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. 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.
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References
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Tiv people
African rulers
African royalty
Nigerian royalty