Considering
the harsh economic recession in the land, the wife of the Benue State
Governor, Mrs. Eunice Ortom has called on traditional rulers to discard
all the unnecessary charges that has made marriage too expensive for the
people.
Wife of the Benue State Governor, Mrs. Eunice Ortom
Wife of the Benue State Governor, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, has appealed
to Tor Tiv-elect, Prof. James Ayatse, to review bride-prices in Tiv
land, to enable young men get married “when due”.
Ortom made the appeal on Tuesday, when she paid a courtesy visit to
the Tor Tiv-elect in Makurdi. She decried the high demands made on
young men seeking to marry Tiv daughters, and described the situation as
“very discouraging”.
“Such high demands discourage many bachelors from even
attempting to get married; the result is that many young girls cannot
find husbands,” she said.
The governor’s wife argued that such exorbitant charges were not part of Tiv culture.
“Such charges are imported; our traditional rulers should discard them,” she said.
While noting that bride-price payment was sacrosanct in every marriage, she cautioned parents against selling their daughters “especially since the relationship between in-laws remains, long after such marriage rites”.
She regretted that many young men now preferred to elope with their
loved ones owing to such huge monetary demands, and stressed the need
to make the process affordable so as to restore the sanctity of the
marriage institution.
Ortom pledged her support to the new monarch, saying that his
emergence was an act of God that would bring unity to the Tiv nation.
Responding, the traditional ruler promised to work toward a united
Tiv nation, and promised to be truthful, transparent and promote the
fear of God at all times.
He also promised to uphold valuable cultural practises and repeal negative ones.
Ayatse decried the politics of rancour and acrimony in Tiv land,
and promised to reconcile Tiv sons and daughters toward building a
united front.
-NAN
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