By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
A youth group, Takum youth Progressive group, has described as mischief and blackmail on the person of Gen. TY Danjuma, by a cultural group, Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria, linking the statesman to their local traditional stool.
In press statement issued and signed by the group secretary Mr Emmanuel Tikari, the youth group asked the KYN leadership to exempt the elder statesman from their local traditional stool and publicly apologise, as their recent press briefing regarding the traditional stool of Takum, linking TY Danjuma as planing to take the position, was mischievous and blackmailing.
According to TYPG, Gen. TY was too big to descend so low to become a mere traditional ruler.
“It is mischievous for KYN to say a person of Gen. Danjuma’s status is planning to become a mere traditional ruler. We want KYN to exempt Danjuma from their traditional controversy and publicly apologise for blackmailing him.
“We want to let the world known that the KYN press briefing on the person of Gen. Danjuma was a of falsehood, targeted at tarnishing the good image of Governor Agbu Kefas’s government.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Gen. Danjuma’s giant strides in the development of Takum, his fatherland is not in bargaining for anything as infinitesimal as becoming the Chief of Takum at his age. In fact, it is absurd for (KYN), to say Gen. Danjuma, a known global philanthropist of such magnitude who is achieving those giant strides for his community with a motive attached. It unfortunate and pathetic that officials of KYN, who are suppose to be educated people, have decided to betray their academic attainments with such a shallow mindset in assessing the person of Gen. Danjuma in that manner.
“There has never been a time that the revered elder (TY Danjuma), ever requested to be made the Chief of Takum. What is consequential to a global figure like Gen Danjuma in the Takum chieftaincy throne? It’s only a myopic mind and mischief maker that will link a person of the retired General to the Takum throne that is only limited to a local government.
“For record purposes, the process of the selection of the Chief of Takum is guided by the provision of the 1975 Order of the Benue-Plateau State of Nigeria Gazette No. 22, Vol. 9, pg 5-7, which provided that, “The Chief of Takum shall continue to be chosen by the traditional selectors from the descendants in the adult male line of the ruling families of Likam, Akente, Dinyi, and Tikari. It further provided that the traditional selectors shall be the persons holding the following offices, namely; Kuru Kpante, Tunwari, Head of the Tikari family, Head of Likam family, and Head of Akente family.
“If the law has spelled out the ruling houses that can be made the Chief of Takum of which Gen. Danjuma does not belong to any, one wonders how KYN will descend so low to insinuate that the general is to be honored with the position of Chief of Takum?
“It is therefore amusing for KYN and its members to claim that Takum chieftaincy stool is an exclusive birthright of the Kuteb people. We wish to publish this fact for the KYN to note that this is the most unimaginable day-dreaming of the 21st century.
“It is improper for KYN owing to its usual ulterior motive to begin to accuse the state government, using foul and derogatory languages to pass issues that it can not substantiate with facts. We think those learned folks in KYN know the implication of raising such hefty allegations against the person of Gen. Danjuma and the Taraba State government,” the youth group challenged.
