By Peter Duru, Makurdi

A group, the Tiv Youth Patriotic Front, TYPF, has cautioned against the collapse of the recent peace deal entered into by Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George at the instance of the Tor Tiv, HRM, Orchivirigh Prof. James Aytase and the Tiv Traditional Council, TTC in Gboko.

Recalled that, the TTC under the leadership of the Tor Tiv on April 1, 2024, summoned a peace meeting at the palace of the Tor Tiv in Gboko, the Traditional Headquarters of the Tiv tribe, which was personally attended by Governor Alia and Senator Akume over their political differences, after which they warmly embraced each other in public glare.

However, the TYPF in a statement issued in Makurdi by its President, Daniel Yoosu expressed concern that the peace deal might be threatened by the recent comments allegedly made in a widely circulated video by the Chief of Staff, CoS, to the Governor, Mr. Paul Biam and appealed to all leaders to allow the peace deal work.

Part of the statement read, “We all saw the SGF and the Governor embrace each other, and showed signs of commitment to work together for the development of  Benue State.

“Benue people were happy for the peace initiatives and commended the TTC for its intervention in the cold war between the Governor and the SGF and their supporters.

“This peace meeting was followed up with another between the TTC and members of the National Assembly of Tiv extraction, few days later.

“Benue people have observed a peaceful relationship between the Governor and the SGF as well as members of the National Assembly from Benue State.

“We also observed that Sen. Akume’s camp has respected the peace deal and even restrained from making utterances against the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia.

“However, we are disturbed by the comments of Mr. Biam in a viral video which has been circulating online. In the viral video, we saw the Chief of Staff to the Governor while addressing mourners at a burial in Vandeikya Local Government Area, LGA, of the state categorically say that, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State has two factions.

“According to Mr. Biam, the Alia faction was the real or original APC and those who belonged to the Governor’s faction will have food to eat, while those APC members who don’t belong to the Governor’s faction will be treated as enemies, and even members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are regarded ahead of them.”

The TYPF lamented that the content of said video was an affront to the peace deal initiated by the Tor Tiv and the TTC warning that no society can develop without peace.

The TYPF said “we equally see the actions of Mr. Biam as a mockery of the efforts of the TTC, to bring peace between the governor and his party, the APC. As youths of the Tiv Nation, we have observed that Mr. Biam has categorically told the world that there can’t be peace between the governor, the SGF and the APC.

“The TTC and the good people of Benue State should hold Mr. Biam responsible for the deliberate attempt to ensure the peace brokered by the TTC between the Governor and the SGF fails, and hostilities resumes.”

Contacted, Mr. Biam declined comment saying, “I don’t like responding to such things.”