In recent times, there has being a rise in cycling and trekking among Benue men and women. This trend is particularly among youths who find one reason or the other to go out and visit someone, either to present a gift or just to greet and thank the person in respect of whom the journey was embarked upon. This is trending commonly within the Tiv ethnic group which occupies the majority population in the state.
Emmanuel Myam, aka Emmi Wuks, a fan of music star, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, who said he was cycling from Benue to Lagos to meet the singer is notably seen as the genesis of this trend. He arrived the commercial city of Lagos after spending 15 days cycling across states to deliver a special gift to his favourite singer. He was warmly received and given a heroic welcome on his arrival in Lagos on Friday, August 18, 2023, by the Tiv community in Lagos, according to a Facebook post. According to Emmi Wuks, he survived the journey with the help of Fearless Ernergy Drink.
His visit came at a time the visuals of Davido Music Worldwide, DMW, act, Logos Olori’s new single ‘Jaye Lo’ was being welcomed with huge criticisms, especially by Muslims who considered the content “offensive and disrespectful” to their religion. DAILY POST reported that the new DMW 2.0 artist released his debut single under the label on Friday, July 21, 2023. Following the release, DMW boss, Davido took to Twitter to share a short clip of the music video which captured people praying and dancing in front of a mosque, as he urges fans to stream the song. “Allow me to re-introduce, @logosolori with his new single “Jaye Lo”… Lets Run It Up one time! Let’s take over the world !!! We Litty,” he tweeted. However, his tweet didn’t sit well with Muslim faithful who immediately asked him to take down the video and tender an apology as the content of the video was deemed offensive to the Islamic religion.
While Emmi Wuks was still waiting for his boss Davido, another Benue man, Tor Solomon Songu, took his bicycle and embarked on a journey from Benue to Port Harcourt to see Apostle Chibuzor Gift. According to Tor Solomon Songu, he was inspired to make the journey after watching a video of the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries World Wide giving a car to another pastor who had traveled a long distance to see him. Songu said he cycled for over 10 days, covering a distance of over 800 kilometers. He arrived at Apostle Chibuzor’s church in Port Harcourt on Saturday, August 27, 2023.
In his appreciation of the Benue Pastor, Apostle Chibuzor Gift gifted a Sienna Vehicle to Tor Solomon Songu, the man who rode with Bicycle from Benue to meet with him in Portharcourt. He also gave Songu’s child an automatic scholarship to study abroad. Apostle Chibuzor said that instead of spending money on a hotel, he accommodated the man in his private residence and gave him 100,000 naira to buy fuel to go back the next day.
On Saturday, August 27, 2023 another Tiv man Aondover Solomon Tersoo started his trekking journey from Makurdi to see Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the current Honorable Mister for FCT in Abuja. Aondover Solomon Tersoo arrived Abuja on the 3rd of September, 2023, after spending 8 days trekking. In his social media appearances, he was always carrying a bottle of Climax Energy Drink and Aqua Trust table water. As if this was going to be the last, more and more Tiv sons and daughters have begun to find someone for whom they would trek or cycle to go and meet.
Earlier in the year, no fewer than two “boys” who embarked on a victory trek from Katsina-Ala to Makurdi were received by then governor-elect, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, and the then Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. George Akume. The two men, Tyosar Terfa (Gajere) 27, and Yaapera John Terna (Ya Pii) 25, according to NewsDirect, made long arduous journey on foot covering a geographical distance of about 103 Km celebrating the election victory of Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia. The duo who left Katsina-Ala town from the north east axis of Benue State on Monday, March 20 2023, following the declaration of Fr. AlIa’s victory by INEC got to Makurdi in the noon of Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Speaking during their reception, the two men lamented the hardship their people (Sankera) were made to pass through by the incumbent government in the state, adding that their trekking was symbolic of the nature of lifestyle they were used to, having stayed in the bush and without motorcycles for years. They appealed to the governor-elect to pay maximum attention to Sankera after his inauguration and help alleviate the suffering of their people.
It could be recalled that in 2016, a former National Youth Service Corps member, Mr. Isaac Sekav Ahungwa, was offered automatic employment by the then Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State after he rode a bicycle from Oyo State to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on completion of his NYSC. According to the Punch, Ortom, who received Mr. Ahungwa at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, described the young man as a determined son of the state whose example should be emulated by others. Mr. Ahungwa, a graduate of Statistics from Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, embarked on a 14-day bicycle ride back to Makurdi to present his discharge certificate to Ortom. He said, at the start of the “Patriotic Tour” on November 5th, 2016, that the ride would show that Nigerians can only overcome recession with hard work, belief, perseverance, and determination.
While there are mixed feelings about the perceptions of other tribes and even among Tiv about the cycling/trekking nature of the Tiv people recently, there is the urgent and objective need for a quest into the ultimate causes of these journeys. All the people who embarked on these journeys had reasons for doing so. Their cycling/trekking as a ‘means of transportation’ were also symbolic of the kind of message they wanted to deliver. In all the cases highlighted above, the means of transportation has always generated a high level of attention and recognition. Also, all cycling/trekking who met their mentors were granted the deserved audience and achieved the purpose of their journey.
The social media in Benue state has many on it complaining that they do not know why people are jumping into it. Too much of everything is bad and this very one should be stopped by those concerned. But one big question to ask is; why is the next person willing to embark on this kind of arduous cycling/trekking journey? Why is this common among youth? Why do other people consider it as something unpleasing? These and many other questions seek answers.
As citizens continue to lament, leaders have continued to encourage these acts. Instances of encouragements abound as in the case of the former Governor Ortom stating while receiving Mr. Isaac Sekav Ahungwa that “a determined son of the state whose example should be emulated by others”. While receiving the victory trekkers, Governor Alia assured them and all Benue people of his readiness to transform the state in all sectors even as he said, he understood the plight of Sankera people and would surely work to make a change in the area.
Though many may not be at peace with these cycling/trekking journeys, they are neither criminal nor will everybody be able to accomplish them. The high level of unemployment in Tiv land is enough reason for people to go on exile. In my perspective, these fellows have chosen the part of glory by not involving themselves in criminal activities but engaging in ventures which give them both fame and income. I find in the trekking/cycling trend among Tiv youth a worthy attempt to be excluded from the ‘Lazy Youth’ Nigeria has produced while trying to find a more profitable engagement.
As leaders contemplate ways of ending the trend, lucrative alternatives to the prevailing trend of cycling/trekking journeys should be first considered. This is because, the cyclists/trekkers are earning already and every other youth is aware of the wealth generated from this venture. Putting an end to this practice means closing an existing source of employment/income. To a large extent, this cycling and trekking trend among Benue youths of central Nigeria is a search for the promised land.
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