The paramount ruler of the Tiv Nation, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, has brokered peace between the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

A lingering feud between Alia and Akume, who are both chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, had seen the party plunge into a crisis.

Last week, the governor inaugurated a factional State Working Committee of the APC for Benue State.

The peace meeting to reconcile the governor and the SGF held at the palace of Tor Tiv in Gboko, the trado-political seat of the Tiv Nation, Benue State on Easter Monday.

A photograph from the gathering showed Alia and Akume holding each other in an embrace and smiling.

Both Alia and Akure are from the Tiv ethnic group of Benue State.

They had been engrossed in a cold war over the control of the Benue State APC structure.

However, the two leaders at separate fora always claimed that there was no rift between them, with each blaming the crisis in the party on political jobbers.

But the sour relationship between the duo became public last week when Alia inaugurated the factional SWC for the Benue APC.

Speaking to journalists about the peace meeting, the monarch said,  “Today, being Easter Monday, I called the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Alia, and the SGF, Senator George Akume, to discuss with them because of some of the reports that we have received about conflicts between them; the political differences and we have spoken with them.

“They have told us and discussed the issues with us and we have all discussed and agreed together.”

According to Tor Tiv,  the governor and the SGF said that they had agreed to bury their differences and work together as a team for the good of the Benue people.

“So, all the past differences have been put aside; you have a fresh start, working together in unity in cooperation and agreement for the progress and development of Benue State,” the monarch said.

He said that the duo had made a commitment before the Tiv Traditional Council “and they have agreed by symbolically shaking and embracing each other, that they will work together as a team. They will bury their differences and work together.

“We are happy with the resolutions they took themselves and we believe they have shown commitment by their actions.

“This decision they have taken and important, we (the Tiv Traditional Council) are their fathers in the land, and our blessings have a lot of importance in their activities; so, to make such a commitment in the presence of the traditional rulers in the land is very weighty.

“And we do believe that they will adhere to the resolutions that were reached today.”