MARGINALIZATION OF THE TIV NATION:Elder statesman Wantaregh Paul Unongo calls for a Sovereign National Conference to review the history and present state of the nation.

Ex-minister and Deputy Chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Wantaregh Paul Unongo has suggested a Sovereign National Conference to review the history and present state of the nation in order to chart the right course going forward.

The elder statesman made this remark during an interview with Sunday Sun’s Kenny Ashaka on the Buhari presidency, the need for a Sovereign National Conference, Nigeria’s future and other issues.“This is why I said we need a Sovereign National Conference of nationalities in this country. And we need to be truthful to ourselves. What do we want? We want a good nation, let everybody be represented. Then, let’s discuss from the experiences we have had after staying together for 100 years.” the octogenarian said.

He also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of sidelining the Tiv ethnicity from his administration.

He said, “I am a Tiv man and there is no Tiv man in the Federal Executive Council of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I can prove to anybody that there are more than 12 million Tiv people across Nigeria. I can prove to anybody who is fair minded that we dominate at least three states in Nigeria. And we are in the Federal Capital Territory in large numbers.

“How can you be running a federal government where decisions about Nigeria are being discussed and such a huge group of people that made perhaps more impact at keeping Nigeria as one than any other single tribe is excluded from decision making process. Is it right? No, it is not right.”