Battle for the Next Ter Kwande: The Conspiracies, The Intrigues

By Iorliam’Amo Shija

The battle for the next Ter Kwande to replace Late James Ityowua Adzape, who died in December, 2010 is in top gear. KSN investigation reveals that as at last count, no fewer than 13 people have shown interest or are rumoured to be interested in the top Traditional job in Kwande.

A source close to the Acting Ter Kwande, Tyoor Yalu Agbo has told KSN that the following are in the race for the Ter Kwande,Tyoor D I Chula (Mbayoo), Tyoor Tivlumun Ako(Usar), Dr EC Ayangeor(Mbakyaan),Hilary Ikima(Mbaiwen),Msom Tion(Mbanienge),Achagh Ihuma(Mbahav),Toor Sue(Mbarumun), Pever Ge(Mbayoo),Amokaha Adikpo(Mbayoo),Steven Adzege,(Mbayoo), Prof Ahire Sambe(Mbayoo), Pator Abura Tsegba, and  P I Achaa.

  Although each of the above is qualified to occupy the stool, yet so far, the contest is rumoured to be marred by conspiracies and is becoming intriguing by the day. At the backdrop of these conspiracies is the desire of other contestants to outwit others by all means. For in the bid to actualize their Ter Kwande dreams, many of the candidates are said to have retorted to lies, mudslinging, bribe, the use of their political might and connections at the Tor Tiv palace to achieve their aim.

Perhaps the chief conspiratory issue is the seeming confusion over where the Ter Kwande is supposed to come from. In his address during the late  Ter Kwande’s burial in March 2010, HRM, Ochivirigh Dr A A Torkula, ToTiv 4, represented by Ter Ikyor, HRH Jam Gbinde hinted that the Ter Kwande was for “Usar and Nanev”.

Between Usar and Nanev are three traditional councils, Mbagba/ Mbakyaan, Mbayoo and Usar. KSN investigation shows that since the Tor Tiv did not specify the exact traditional council to produce the next Ter Kwande, almost every of these council wards are parading a candidate. And as the days go by, every candidate is parading his strengths and hoping to be favoured by the king makers.

For others it is,  to compel their ityo to endorse them out of so many candidates;  others are using cash and their political might, others parade experience, Education, goodwill and others too, are banking on zoning. All attempts by our reporters to make the contestants, District Heads (who form the Electoral College to choose the next Ter Kwande) and the Acting Ter Kwande to talk to KSN about how prepared they are for the contest, proved abortive.

But a source close to the Acting Ter Kwande told KSN on condition of anonymity that every candidate for the throne is made to pass through some security check with the requisite security agencies and that the Acting Ter is waiting ready to conduct the nomination process. Although another source has accused the Acting Ter Kwande of delaying the process to facilitate the emergence of the next Ter deliberately. “It is long overdue for another Ter Kwande to emerge”, the source said, “but the current Acting Ter Kwande thinks otherwise, so what do we say?

Meanwhile all is now set for the next Ter Kwande to emerge 29^th February, 2012. A source close to the Acting Ter Kwande told KSN .That the decision was reached on the 14^th February, 2012. It was was also concluded that the next Ter must come from “Nanev” comprising of the three traditional councils.  As a result, the contestants and Nanev  elders  are billed to hold a meeting between 18^th and 19^th February, to decide on the council which will produce the next Ter, and then the final selection takes place on the 29^th February, 2012, the source revealed to KSN.