Two best friends. One was Governor. The other, his Head of Service. Both were sons of the NKST church.
Then came the twist: the Head of Service resigned to run against his own boss in the Gubernatorial primaries.
The church panicked. If they both contested, the seat could slip to another denomination. So, they called on one man to settle it — Rev. J.E.I. Sai.(MON)
This was no ordinary elder. He was the first indigenous Pastor and President of the NKST Synod, the man to whom the missionaries handed leadership and the one who received the very first translation of the Bible into Tiv language. By 1983 he had retired, but his wisdom and influence were unmatched.
The dilemma?
One candidate was his cousin.
The other had grown up under his roof.
Whichever way he ruled, someone would accuse him of bias.
All eyes turned to Rev. Sai … and what happened in his sitting room at Sai village that day changed Benue politics forever.
HISTORY MADE AS THE NKST CHURCH RESOLVES A SEEMINGLY DIFFICULT SITUATION IN 1983.
HOW REV. J.E.I. SAI RESOLVED THE 1983 NKST GUBERNATORIAL CONUNDRUM
Governor Aper Aku of the NPN was seeking reelection in 1983. His friend and Head of Service, Ezekiel Aker Akiga, suddenly resigned to challenge him at the primaries. Both men were staunch members of the NKST church.
The church leadership grew worried: two prominent sons of the same church fighting each other could hand power to another denomination. Two meetings between KUS and the two contestants yielded no compromise as the two contestants refused to shift ground.
Synod President Rev.
J.K. Manyam called for intervention and the matter was taken to the home of Rev. J.E.I. Sai in Sai village.(For emphasis, Sai was the village the SUM Missionaries first birthed)
This was no ordinary man. Rev. Sai was the first indigenous President of the NKST Synod, the man to whom the missionaries had handed leadership. He had also received the first-ever translation of the Bible into Tiv language. Though retired, he commanded unmatched respect across Tiv land.
But the dilemma before him was heavy:
Aper Aku had lived with Rev. Sai during his childhood, his father Aku Kisó was the pastor’s bosom friend.
Aker Akiga was Rev. Sai’s cousin.
Who should he ask to step down?
Convoys of Peugeot 504s rolled into Sai. The Synod President Rev J.K. Manyam accompanied by KUS members, Aper Aku with his police escort and Aker Akiga all assembled into Rev. Sai’s expansive sitting room. Tea was served as tradition demanded.
Yours sincerely was seated on a side stool beside Pastor Sai, pen in hand and exercise book for jottings after which I would transfer to the “Minute book ” as every meeting had to be documented.
Then the matter was laid before him: “Baba, one of your children must step aside, for the sake of the church.”
He reached for his Bible, read Psalm 133:1 and preached on Jacob and Esau. He spoke about the danger of favoritism and the beauty of unity. Yet he gave no verdict.
The room was silent. Aper Aku tapped his foot, sipping water. Aker Akiga’s eyes were fixed on his uncle. Elders clasped their hands. Suspense filled the air.
Finally, Rev. Sai asked: “Who else is contesting for governor?”
Names like Paul Unongo, Isaac Shaahu, Chia Surma and S.P.S Gusah were mentioned.
“Which churches do they attend?”
“Catholic and other denominations.”
Everyone was puzzled.
Then he turned to both men: “Will you obey my decision?”
They both agreed.
He chewed his eyeglass handle for what seemed like eternity… then delivered his verdict:
“This is only the primaries. NKST must not weaken its arsenal. Both of you should contest. But whoever loses must NOT defect, you must remain and support the winner.”
Aper Aku agreed. Aker Akiga agreed. The meeting ended in peace. Closing prayers were said by an excited President of the synod Pastor Manyam.
History records that when Akiga lost, he kept his word. He stayed, worked for Aper Aku’s victory and NKST retained its place in Benue politics.
All because one retired Synod President — the very first indigenous leader of NKST and the man who received the Tiv Bible translation — turned a looming war into peace with wisdom, Scripture and courage.
Culled from the diary of Mike Msuega Yawe, grandson of Rev. J.E.I. Sai.
