Tor Tiv Prof. James Ayatse on Thursday confered chieftaincy titles on four governors, Speaker of the House of Representatives and two others for their outstanding contributions to the Tiv nation.
The recipients were governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu.
Others were Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, former minister of justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), and Prof. Shima Gyoh retired provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Benue State University.
Performing the ceremony at his palace in Gboko, Benue State, the monarch said that the tittles reflected the relationship between the recipients and the Tiv people.
He said the conferment of the chieftancy tittles was a continuation of the reformation of the Tiv culture that started in 1994.
“This is in continuation of the reformation of the Tiv culture that started in 1994. The recipients are drawn across all works of life, different backgrounds, professions and religions.
“We are not politicians; we do things as fathers. Henceforth, you are ambassadors of the Tiv nation,” he declared.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, Tambuwal pledged that they would be worthy ambassadors of the Tiv nation.
The governor said the recipients would continue to work together to establish peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
The recipients were present except Gbajabiamila and Agabi while Sule was represented by the state commissioner for works, housing and transport Philip Dada.
