Your expensive bride price discourages bachelors, Ortom tells Tiv ruler

Eunice Ortom, wife of the Benue state governor, has described the bride price of the Tiv tribe as very discouraging and appealed to James Ayatse, the traditional ruler, to review bride-prices.

Ortom made the appeal on Tuesday when she paid a courtesy visit to the Tor Tiv-elect in Makurdi.

“Such high demands discourage many bachelors from even attempting to get married; the result is that many young girls cannot find husbands.

“Such charges are imported; our traditional rulers should discard them.”

The wife of the governor said that while bride price payment is important, parents should be careful not to sell their daughters “especially since the relationship between in-laws remains, long after such marriage rites.”

She said that many young men now prefer to elope with their loved ones owing to such huge monetary demands and advised that the process should be made affordable.

Ortom pledged her support to the new monarch, saying that his emergence was an act of God that would bring unity to the Tiv nation.

In response, the traditional ruler promised to work toward a united Tiv nation, uphold valuable cultural practices and repeal negative ones.

He also promised to be truthful, transparent and promote the fear of God at all times