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Leaders from Tar Tyoshin in Benue State have issued a public apology to former Governor Samuel Ortom following a controversial social media video in which Chief Daniel Ayua Abomtsse, the Ter Tyoshin, allegedly disparaged the ex-governor.
In a statement released on February 8, 2026, Senator Titus Tartenger (PhD), representing Benue North West Senatorial District, described Chief Abomtsse’s actions as “disgraceful” and unrepresentative of the Tyoshin people. He appealed to Chief Ortom to regard the incident as the misstep of an individual rather than a reflection of the community’s collective views.
Senator Tartenger recalled that during his tenure as governor, Chief Ortom had shown goodwill by reinstating Chief Abomtsse as Ter Tyoshin after the traditional ruler was deposed in 2014 by then-Governor Gabriel Torwua Suswam. He described Ortom’s intervention as an act of magnanimity that should not be overlooked.
The statement further noted that “Tar Tyoshin has been burdened by Chief Abomtsse’s excesses,” but emphasised that the public apology—coming from the highest-ranking public servant from the area—should help mend any resulting damage. It stressed that Chief Abomtsse acted alone in this matter.
The senator expressed hope that the traditional ruler would turn over a new leaf and reaffirmed the Tyoshin people’s enduring respect for Chief Ortom’s leadership and integrity.
The apology seeks to distance the broader Tyoshin community from the viral outburst and preserve cordial relations with the former governor, who remains an influential figure in Benue politics. The incident highlights the sensitivities surrounding traditional institutions, social media conduct by public figures, and inter-personal dynamics in the state’s Tiv heartland.
