RESTING AT HOME: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PROF J.T ORKAR
By Tim Cuttings Agber
When a Governor clinches his gubernatorial seat out of many contestants and wants to leave an indelible mark of governance, he helms into his cabinet, people of integrity, dignity and sagacity to help him govern a State he loves; not employing saboteurs that any time they come to see the Governor, they wangle in praise singing of his shoes as if cajoling a girlfriend to ‘bedwin’ amorphous trophies. This is why when Apollos Aper Aku Kisô became the First Civilian Governor of Benue State, he deployed into his government, men of witching prudence.
Benue State was created on 3rd February, 1976 by General Murtala Muhammed and other states including Bauchi, Borno, Imo, Niger, Ogun and Ondo. Apparently, the First Gubernatorial Elections took place in Benue on 28th July, 1979 when Apollos Aper Aku won as the First Executive or Civilian Governor under the National Party of Nigeria NPN. Aper Aku defeated Isaac Shaahu and George Ateze who were prominent contestants. Aku was sworn in on 1st October, 1979 and he formed his Cabinet made of Intellectuals and men of Integrity; not all, but including the following:
Athanasius I. Angereke, Adejo Ogiri, Orban Nyiekura, Vincent Tyôkyaa, Uji, Moses Abi,
Abu John Ali, Sule Iyaji, Elizabeth Afazwana Ivase, Mvendaga Jibo, Isaac Deem Kpum, Godwin I.Okpe, Isaac Jimba, Dan Agbese, Tebu, O.,Toryima K. Orga, Nelson Eka Onojo, Peter Vande Acka, Onuche, J.A., Fassam Chubu and Joseph Targema Orka.
Some people were not comfortable with the leadership and governance of Aper Aku but of course, many people were happy with his selfless disposition to governance and the citizen-friendly policies he put in place. Groups, Organizations and Individuals were attuned to Aku’s government, the reason for which the Association of Tiv Singers encouraged members to imbue their compositions with encouragements and sermonizations to help the government.
The origin of the Association of Tiv Singers emerged in 1956 when the entire Tiv folksinger saw a need to form a union, which was meant to be an association of Tiv singers or composers. Pioneers of its formation included Bam Ginde Anande Amende, Ikyaater, Aginde Agena Leke, Maza Nomhwange, Ayôô Angwe Agure, Jiagwer Adamgbe Atseke Zômon, Aôndo Iorbo, Hura Iyongo, Iorlumun Abee Ikya, Guusu Aie Ayom, Utuku Agire, Amee Yôngo Aboki, Abaya Ndere and Samari Akaan. Moreover, by 27th March, 1962 the union was reorganized and Anande Amende was made the President, Aôndo Iorbo was the Vice President and Maza Nomhwange was the Treasurer. During the Aper Aku regime, Tôndo Kumbur Gbaguma Kumbur Daku became the President with other pivotal members like Tarker Golozo, James Neeryum Kaor Chira, Abughdyer Yazum and Pevikyaa Zegi. Today, Akwashi Uyegher is the President and Iwen Aso Abenga is the General Secretary. This is the same union or association where Pevikyaa Zegi also belonged who made songs to educate the Tiv and Benue citizens on Aku’s government activities and policies. In one of his songs Joseph Pevikyaa Zegi narrated:
M sugh Kômishina Joe Targema Orkaa,
Orkaa nengen sha ù Injin cii
Hile sha kwagh ù Gbenda kpa J.T. Orkar
Sember-sember ne iyange za bugh Tsar ù Logo la
Gema ashe nenge Gbenda ù mough Biam yem Buruku
Sain kende Federa
HIDE NGU MEMEN SHA YA
M sugh Vincent Uji, Uji ngu maan Makudi yemen
Kwaghla doo’m oo
Ì tsua Hindan à za Ciaman ù Gilin Levolushen…
Zegi was thankful to Aper Aku’s government and his appointees for the recorded progressive additions made within a short period and the sensitivity to the plight and yearnings of the poor masses. This is why he greets Commissioner Joseph Targema Orkaa and admits that Orkaa oversees Agricultural Mechanization and Equipment even in the area of Road Constructions; after recently commissioning the Logo Bridge, he turned his attention to the Road from Biam Town to Buruku and signed to be a “Trunk A” Road, and he is now RESTING AT HOME. The singer or composer is happy and greets Vincent Tyôakaa Uji who is rapidly developing Makurdi Metropolis to his liking and admits with joy the appointment of Atoza Hindan as the Chairman of Green Revolution. By the way, this is the same Joseph Targema Orkaa who became the first Tiv man to be Professor of Tiv Language.
On 26th November, 1940 the Jilava Massacre took place in the night close to Bucharest in Romania. Some 64 members of the old government of the overthrown King Carol II of Romania were executed by the Iron Guard. More so, November 26 of 1940 marked the beginning of the walling off of the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw by the Nazi Germany. It was a devastating turning point in the history of the persecution of the Jews duting the World War II that left them with unimaginable sufferings and deaths. Apparently, it was on this same 26th November, 1940 that Targema Orkar was born. Kpamor, Professor Joseph Targema was born to the family of Levi Orkar Chinyam Angbágh Agi, his father and Wankwase Orkar, his mother in Ugbagir Village of Ugondo in Masev Mega Clan of the then Tiv Division, Benue Province in Northern Nigeria.
The Orkar Family had the development of Tiv in particular and Nigeria at large at heart, the reason for which the younger brother to Joseph Targema Orkar, Major Gideon Orkar wanted to reshape Nigeria. Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar was born on 4th October, 1952 and died on 27th July, 1990. In his coup address, Gideon Orkar frowned at killings of Dele Giwa and Maman Vatsa and discouraged the ideology of a Life-time Presidency. He contributed to mediation and peacekeeping struggles in the Republic of Chad in 1978 and served Nigeria at different divisions as a professional Soldier.
Kpamor Joseph Targema Orkar was educated at Junior Primary Schoo, Apir, 1951-1954, Senior Primary School, Mkar, 1955-1957, Government Technical Institute now Kaduna Polytechnic, 1958-1960, St. Clements University, Turks and Caicos Island, 1998-2000 and Island University Panama granted him Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) to recognize his contributions to the development of Tiv Language. Moreover, on 5th March, 2016, the Freedom University & Theological Seminary in United States of America appointed him Professor of Tiv Language. Orkar has served the country in different capacities including Board Member of the Benue-Plateau Printing and Publishing Corporation, 1975, Member of the Benue Hotels Board, Makurdi, 1976, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Benue Transport Service now Benue Links, Councilor of Gwer Local Government Council, Aliade, 1977-1979, Member, Benue State House of Assembly representing Yonov, 1979-1982 and National Chairman of Masev Development Association, 1978. Other positions he held included Member, Board of Trustee, Tiv Language Studies and Development Association, Chairman Board of Trustees, Community Secondary School, Makurdi, President, Lobi Credit Cooperative Society Limited, Benue State Deputy Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) and Chairman 8th and 9th Governing Council, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State.
During the International Conference on Tiv Language (Zwa Tiv), which started on Thursday 10th to 12th November 2022 at Government Model School, Makurdi in Benue State-Nigeria, Professor Joseph Targema Orkar was conferred with the highest honor given by the Mzoo u Zwa Tiv known as Huror u Zwa Tiv HZT on 12th November, 2022. Fellowship of Tiv Language was also awarded on the same day to other well-meaning Tiv Songs and Daughters including Rev. Fr. Tagesa Akpagher hzt, Tim Cuttings Agber hzt, HRM Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse hzt, Prof. Zacharys Anger Gundu hzt, Prof. Akosu Adeiyongo hzt, Dr. Eunice Erdoo Ortom hzt, Rev. Daniel Terkura Karshima hzt, Wantor Terngu Ashidoon Torkula hzt, Sen. Suemo Chia hzt, Hon. Engr. Tachia Jooji hzt, Chief Orngu Mellah hzt and Anna Mngusughun Darius Ishaku hzt. The conferment was done in the presence of Prof. James Tar Tsaaior, Prof. Moses Tsenongu, Dr. Roseline Sokpo, Dr. Terfa Aôr, Dr. Eugene Orvihi Ivase, Rev. Fr. Dr. James Bature and Dr. Shachia Oryila among many other dignitaries.
Professor Kpamor Joseph Targema Orkar Chinyam Angbàgb Agi married Esther Mbaidoove Anyugu Agir Igbye from Ukan on 31st December, 1964 and they had six children, Erdoo Mbatsav, Ngôhile Donko, Mzuami Orkar, Tomuter Orkar, Late Terfa Orkaa and Dooyan Alumun. Orkaa was born on 26th November, 1940, died 5th January, 2025 and was buried 4th February, 2025. During his burial, in the presence of the Governor of Benue State His Excellency Rev Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia Kachina, the President of Tiv Language and Development Studies (Mzoo u Zwa Tiv) Rev. Fr. Tagesa Akpagher made a prayer for three things in honor of Late Prof. Kpamor J.T. Orkar. His prayer was that Governor should empower Benue State University, Makurdi to make Tiv Language a Degree Course; Governor should support the Family or Orkaa and Mzoo u Zwa Tiv to publish many of the Tiv manuscripts left by Late Prof. Orkar and that Government should establish Prof. Kpamor JT Orkar Benue State Indigenous Languages Institute. The Governor responded in a confirmatory note promising to help publish the books and support the BSU with staff to teach Tiv Language.
