There is confusion in Benue/Tivland and nobody is talking about it. Maybe perhaps we have become too christolic to notice the confusion that have taken centre stage in the pre and post coronation of Prof. James Ayatse as the Tor Tiv.
The drama started with Prof. James refusing to be sworn in before the Tiv traditional god (Swem). Instead he asks that his coronation be administered via the instrumentality of the christian Bible. This action stirred headlines that went viral. "Tor Tiv Breaks With Tradition, Declines To Be Sworn-in Before “traditional God”. He chooses the Bible against the shrine of Swem which was the norm and the Tiv traditional ruling council did not have an issue with that. As events progress, before the coronation, a certain young man goes and sits on the throne prepared for the Tor Tiv. This young man was arrested. Fine. Tactical move from the law enforcement.
The turn out of actions and proclamations that preceded the emergency meeting of the TTC, makes it hard for critical minds to grapple with.
Shortly after the meeting Tor Kwande, HRH Chief Ambrose Pinne Iyortyer who served as the spokes person of the TTC came out to declare that, Mr. Stephen Nyitse stands banished from stepping his feet on any part of Tivland. The TTC also prohibited all sons and daughters of Tivland from rendering any form of assistance to Stephen Nyitse. You think its alright. I say there is a conflict of conceptualization.
When the now Tor Tiv Prof. James Ayatse refused entering the shrine of Swem (the god of the Tiv people) upon which the traditional rulership of Tivland is anchored, and opted to be coronated using the bible. The Tiv traditional ruling council was quite. And this led many to believe that at last christolic dictates were going to take charge of the affairs of the TTC which was before now shrouded in much ritual and diabolism. How terribly wrong the turn out of events have proved those who nursed those thoughts.