On Akulas letter to the Ter Kwande By Iorliam Amo Shija I saw an open letter to HRH Hillary Ityosula Ikima, the Ter Kwande from Tersoo Akula, my friend. As far as developmental issues in Kwande are concerned, very few Kwande men, especially amongst the younger generation, have shown genuine concern and equal zeal as Akula has been . I will give few examples to buttress this assertation. Many might not know that till date, Akulas document on the Kwande Crisis remains one of the most balanced seminal papers on the crisis. It is still fresh on my mind how Akula brought the paper to Adikpo and distributed freely. After the crisis, with few other friends, and with financial assistance from others which he single handedly sourced, Akula coordinated the the organisation of a Kwande youth summit at Adikpo with the tittle where do we go from here? There are so may issues like that, and to his credit, especially amongst the youths frome Kwande he is a role model, and in my estimation , he has actually paid his dues to earn such status. This was one of the main reasons , I went through his acerbic letter to the Ter Kwande carefully. I wouldnt mind to read or comment on it, if it were written by another person. I think I know why Akula has written, he is just being true to himself. And like I said somewhere, I think this senate issue has made Kwande people to come public with their hiden anger;anger of underdevelopment, anger of mismanagement, anger of failed governance and the likes. If you ask me, this Kwande anger is justified, for it appears that for a while now there has been a tacit conspiracy by some elements in other parts of Benue state with the support of certain Kwande sons and daughters to underdevelop Kwande. As someone who has studied this trend carefully, I will be of disservice both to Ikima and Akula if I remained mute now that these issues have come public. To Ikima because, I dont think those bashing him today, appreciate the precarious position he found himself in, to Akula because, he has appreciated the situation quite correctly but like those before him, those who started the Kwande Crisis, what resulted to the burning of the houses of HRH James Ityowua Adzape, who was then Ter Kwande and other chiefs, because they saw these are their problem, Akula has also erroneously accused Ikima in his missive. I think, this error if not properly situated has the equal propensity of putting the life of Ikima in danger. Moreso, if educated and well meaning people like Akula are beginning to express desperation and throw tantrums, what do we expect of the not so educated and the evil minded? So many might not appreciate what this situation portends, but some of us who do, owe the duty to speak up. For no one should be deceived, Akula has spoken the mind of many other Kwande men. People who feel their that BIRTHRIGHT has been snatched. Angry people who only sit and cry nostalgically about the lost glory of their sages, people like Akpoo Aberaka, of yore and recently, Ako Dzungwe; because at the moment Kwande appear to lack moneybag or men of influence to defend the Kwande pride and identity . It pains them, quite true that some body like Suswam could look Kwande in the face and play this game. Yes, this game has unfortunately been on. But I think Kwande people have failed or are being scared to look at the sources of their problem in the face and address them as appropriate. I think Kwande problem began with Wantaregh Paul Iyolpuu Unongo and late Asom Bur, largely. And them others in recent times, minimally. I will return to this, later.for me, Ikima might be a seen as a culprit at the moment, but he is just a victim of sequentance or at most just a scapegoat. Akpoo Aberaka Bur, many might not know but was the one who laid the foundation of modern Kwande. By 1906, the British through force had taken over Abinsi and Katsina ala. These two places eventually became the main bases for organising expedition and patrol into all corners of Tiv country.By 1910, the responsibility of opening up Tiv land was assigned to Gordon and Ruxton. The latter was assigned to the western Benue area of katsina ala, while Gordon covered the east. It was this duty that took Ruxton among the ichongo sons of TURAN whom he attacked in 1912. By 1914, the greatest product of this invasion , Zaki Tor Jato Aka was made tor over the UNIFIED TURAN including maav, kendev and nyiev. From that threshold, the white men made en route down to Nanev area. Although Adikpo became chief in 1914, it was in the 1930s when Ikpato Adikpo was made tor that education started and the missionaries came with, education. In ikpatos cabinet was an Akpoo who had been taken to Port ha court earlier and knew the importance of of all these. He advised and insisted that Christianity and education should be given a space to coexist with traditional beliefs. This explains why though the the white men first got to Jato aka but education first got its roots in the navev area. So with education accepted , the background for a great Kwande was laid. Perhaps the greatest product of this system was Ako, the son of Dzungwe shande Anyakpa. Ako like Ayatse Ikpato, Augustine agendo Mnena, GWAZA Bur, and so many others became the earliest to be educated. But Ako because he entered in the administrative structures, after education and most of the other remained in the teaching profession, did something significant for the development of Kwande. He did not only en power his Kwande kith through employment but he forced many to go for further education.for example, when he had earlier urged James Adzape to go for his diploma and when the latter returned in 1958, he was the most qualified to head the works department of the Tiv Native authority. Through this method, There arose a generation in Tivland of civil servants , men of wealth and influence, who were of Kwande origin. Kwande was also a land of great business men. Who making use of the anabling environment produced by Ikpato, through Akpoo , Kwange Nyadam of Shangev and of course Jato Aka, who advised that foreigners should, be allowed to live, freely among the people and do business. These produced great men and of, course women of wealth especially in the Kajo family and others. Let me pulse to say that the Kwande we talk of here was bigger than what is to do known as Kwande Local Government. It included what is today known as Ushongo local government too, and as such had people like Angwe suleagbough, , Ge Kpa, working in line, with their kith to produce great men subsequently like Paul loko, Abaagu, Aper Aku and so many others who kept the all inclusive Kwande identity on course. Akula, these people were not as educated as most of you today but they built an enviable Kwande. They paid a lot of sacrifices to lay a background hoping that it will be sustained. They were their brothers keeper. They fought for unity and the development of their land. They were a proud people who found joy in the little they had. And as such they kept the Kwande dream. Ako Dzungwe used his personal wealth to build the old local government secretariat. One Hon Ikyem from ikyurav, who had a promising service with a British insurance company was dragged by the people, because they felt he was the most qualified to come and be their councillor and he obliged. That was how much sacrifice a Kwande man was ready and willing pay so that Kwande developed. Wantaregh Paul Unongo and Asom Bur were to change this. They laid bad seeds which have caused Kwande what ever they had built. What is the result of the confusion and anger in the land today. I will look at this in the concluding part of this article.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 19:05:48 +0000
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