It is assumed as common knowledge that, the Jukun did not conquer the Tiv and therefore, they did not exercise any domination over the Tiv before the arrival of the British. It is no doubt that, the colonial Masters came to meet both the Jukun and the Tiv people in what later became Wukari federation. Similarly, the facts of history emphatically remains that, both the Jukun and the Tiv people came to what is now Wukari area through the incident of migration. In the same vein, none of the tribes (Jukun and Tiv) came as sojourners who would one day go back to another place.
It is equally not arguable that, all these groups (Jukun and Tiv) move to the area at a time when ethnic or administrative boundaries had not been demarcated.
Avav (2002) The defeat of Mallam Ibrahim Sangari, a Jukun candidate into the federal house of representatives by Charles Tangur Gaza, a Tiv candidate in 1959 political polls marks the beginning of political hostilities between these two ethnic groups (Jukun and Tiv). Before 1959, Mallam Ibrahim Sangari was elected into the federal house of representatives in 1945 and 1949 respectively and no Tiv Man raised an alarm.
During the second republic, the Tiv/Jukun and Hausa were predominantly in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), posts were shared equatably. Two seats were allocated to the Tiv people in Gongola state house of assembly (now Taraba State), Hon. Simon Awua, David Mtuem and Alhaji Bawa represented respectively, Mr. Iliya Audu represnted Wukari senatorial district in the senate, mallam Ibrahim Sangari Usman was the deputy gubernatorial candidate in NPN. The GNPP, under Governor Abubakar Barde won the election in 1979 and appointed Simon Iortyer as Chairman Wukari local government, the Jukun objected to this appointment and went ahead to physically attack him in 1982. In 1983, the governor of Gongola state under NPN, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur appointed Dr. Samuel Tor Agbidye commissioner for health and Emmanuel Yawe as Chief press secretary, the Jukun again protested to these appointments. To Jukun its appears resolved to them, but they (Jukun) vowed never to compromise with the Tiv in the future.
The position of the Jukun till date is that, the Tiv are non- indigenes and have no right of citizenship in Wukari local government area of Taraba State. Again, the Jukun are not ready to share political power with any other tribe in Wukari local government area under the participatory democracy, the provisions of the Nigerian constitution on citizenship and citizenship right not withstanding.
Again during the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) regime, a transition time table was set to return the country (Nigeria) to democratic rule but was later shifted to 1992. One of the items to be tackled on the transition time table was the conduct of elections into local government councils in 1987. The Jukun refused any arrangement that would involve the election of any Tiv candidate into the Wukari local government area. The Tiv people therefore supported Alhaji Danladi Shehu, a Hausa candidate who defeated the Jukun candidate namely; Messers Andrew Salah Tsokwa and Samuel Tsovihi Adda. After that, Alhaji Danladi Shehu won the election and appointed a Tiv Man, Abako Shinja as his deputy. This arrangement infuriated the Jukun who saw their future political existence threatened by the Hausas and the Tivs. The Jukun held Alhaji Shehu in contempt through out the period his tenure lasted. The face off between Alhaji Danladi Shehu and the Jukun resulted into physical attack on him on the 4th of April,1989.
The political undertone of the Jukun and Tiv crises in Wukari local government area of Taraba State became more glaring when on the 17th Oct,1991, the Jukun again initiated another communal crises as the November,23rd 1991, local government council bye elections and the Dec,14th 1991, gubernatorial and house of assembly elections approached. This led to the killings of three Tiv farmers by the Jukun at Taji village while working on their farms. The 1991 Massacre led to a full scale war which spread to all nocks and crannies of Wukari local government area, part of Ibi, Donga were also invaded, it was at this point in time that, the Tiv realize as a systematic attempt by the Jukun to eliminate them permanently from Wukari local government.
Another reason for the crises between Jukun and Tiv is the placement of the Tiv under Jukun dominion apartheid (seperation) because a political dogma based on the fear by the minority (Jukun) and the majority (Tiv) will one day dominate them (Jukun).
The recent series of land crises between these two ethnic groups (Tiv and Jukun) has been created by Jukun capitalist famers and their elites who are manipulating ethnic sentiments for their selfish economic and political interests. It must be noted and appreciated that, the Tiv people in Wukari local government area of Taraba State have no any other place outside Wukari in Taraba State that they can call their own. The Tiv people of Wukari in Taraba State have no claim to any piece of land in Benue State where other Tiv people live. This under scores the importance of peaceful co-existence of the Jukun and Tiv.
AONDOHEMBAFAN VEMBE (JNR).
