The chairman of Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, has vowed to rain curses on desperate politicians who are hell bent on fermenting violence on his people and the country at large.
Accordingly, the Tor Tiv urged politicians across board to eschew violence and do away with the use of thug to attempt to manipulate the peoples’ mandate in the forthcoming election or risk being cursed.
The Tor Tiv therefore threatened that any politician who would cause violence in the state before, during or after the elections would suffer the consequences of such actions.
“The traditional institution is committed to peace because we are at the receiving end. Whoever wants to cause chaos, the land will be against such a person.
“We must avoid thuggery. I am therefore, appealing to politicians to avoid thuggery,” he said.
Ayatse spoke in Makurdi during the signing of peace pact by 32 governorship candidates of various political parties vying for elections in the state, an event organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“They (politicians) should go out and campaign, if they are loved by the people, they would be voted for. We are here to talk about peace ahead of the forthcoming general elections. If there is any people who desire peace, it is Benue. We have suffered a lot. That is why we are talking peace.”
“We as traditional rulers live with the people and we know the pains they go through. We feel the pain when we are faced with violence. We are totally committed to peace in Benue and we are prepared to pay the price to ensure peace.
He therefore enjoined politicians to redouble efforts in their campaigns in order to sell their programmes and projections to the electorate, instead of resorting to violence and acts capable of disrupting peace in the society.
