By Brenda Agba
The Mdzough U Tiv (MUT) has called for the immediate resignation of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase.
This call was made following Wase’s throwing out of a public petition presented by Mark Gbillah, Member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the alleged taking over of Tiv ancestral lands, after various attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen that forced them away from their homes.
A statement jointly signed by the MUT President General, CP Iorbee Ihagh (Rtd) with the Secretary General, Chief Luther Iorbee and made available to The Voice says, the MUT feels highly betrayed and underscored as a people and a socio-cultural group as a result of the denial of the fundamental right of expression of their members in Diaspora at the Green Chambers.
“We view this action or inaction as a calculated attempt to shield verifiable facts and figures on the state of insecurity and the accompanied vulnerable and deplorable conditions of the displaced Tiv people who have over several years, turned into refugees in their father land due to the nefarious activities of the marauding Fulani herdsmen in Benue, Taraba and Nassarawa States,” the statement said.
The statement further explained that, the Tiv socio-cultural organisation worldwide officially known as “Mzough U Tiv” is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and incorporated by the laws with a constitutional provision to establish branches across the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory and the Diaspora, even as it seeks to know if there is any constitutionally acceptable reason justifying the disruption of the presentation of a petition sponsored by concerned Nigerians over the social and economic conditions of their people living in any part of the world.
Describing Wase’s exhibited disparagement towards democratic principles on the floor of the House as a pointer o the fact that he lacks fundamental leadership qualities, as well as his emptiness and inability to lead the hallowed Chamber, MUT through the statement, called for an unreserved apology, not only to Nigerians in Diaspora but also to the citizenry for his misconduct and incompetence.
“We call on members of the Green Chamber to compel Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase to honorably and voluntarily resign from the position of the Deputy Speaker with immediate effect to save the House and Nigerians as a democratic society from a slumbering image,” the statement summed.
