By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Forum of Taraba elders resident in Abuja on Tuesday, alleged that Governor Agbu Kefas, was hell-bent on robbing the Kuteb people of their traditional stool (Ukwe Takum).
Elder Ande Filli, in a press statement issued to journalists in Jalingo on behalf of the Forum, expressed that the executive bill the governore submitted to the Taraba state House of Assembly was targeted at robbing the Kuteb people of their traditional dynasty.
Our correspondent reports that Taraba state House of Assembly had on Monday announced a public hearing for the Taraba State creation of one rotational first class and three third class chief in Takum town, to be held on Wednesday at the assembly complex Jalingo.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA also reports that the Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria, as well as other groups, have in recent time accused Gen. TY Danjuma of plotting to use Kefas to erase the title of the paramount ruler of Takum, “Ukwe Takum”, from Kuteb language and replace it with “Kuru Takum” in Jukun language, and ensure that the Kuteb are no longer the rightful owners of the stool.
The statement also claimed that the executive bill sent to the state house of Assembly by the governore does not only seek to change the title of the first class chief but also to introduce a rotational system that would give the Jukun and Chamba tribes, the right of ascension to the first class throne of Takum, and by that break the Kuteb traditional dynasty, erase first class stool of Kuteb and subjugate them to the rulership of minority tribes that have never ruled the area.
“The Governor of Taraba state Dr kefas Agbu is hellbent on robbing the kuteb nation through an executive bill he sent to the Taraba State House of Assembly yesterday Monday 19th February 2024. The content of the bill seeks to erase the title of the paramount ruler of Takum, “Ukwe Takum”, from Kuteb language and replace it with “Kuru Takum” in Jukun language.
“The executive bill does not only seek to change the title of the first class chief but also to introduce a rotational system that gives Jukun and Chamba tribes the right of ascension to the first class throne of Takum and by that, break Kuteb traditional dynasty, erase first class stool of Kuteb and subjugate them to the rulership of minority tribes that have never ruled Takum.
“Recall that Kuteb ruled Takum from time immemorial through 1914, when it was upgraded to 3rd class and subsequently to Second class, till 1996 when the last Ukwe Takum joined his ancestors. The stool was upgraded to UKWE TAKUM FIRST CLASS by Taraba state government based on antecedents of over 100 years. This bill that devilishly seeks erasure of UKWE title of the first class stool of Takum and also seeks to introduce rotation of the first class stool with two other tribes of different customs and traditions falls short of law of natural justice and beats the tenets of morality.
“It is indeed worrisome that Gov Kefas is leading the heinous campaign of usurpation of the heritage of Kuteb people who have ruled Takum consistently for centuries with a throne well recognised by colonial masters and subsequent governments of Northern Nigeria, Gongola State and Taraba state, as exclusive preserve of Kuteb ethnic group. It is pertinent to know that Governor Kefas had threatened Kuteb in several meetings that he would snatch the first class stool of Takum from the Kuteb nation and he shall defend his actions by deployment of large number of security personnel to Takum to deter the masses from voicing out their dissatisfaction should they wish to.
“A governor who chooses the path of profanity and boast of gagging the Kuteb people with troops of well armed security personnel is perpetrating an act of broad daylight robbery that will boomerang in the nearest future. It should be on record that the Kuteb nation, the aborigines of Takum, has suffered perilous times in the hands of the Chamba tribes who are minorities in
Takum and have never ruled Takum. These atrocities were aided by their Son TY Danjuma, a retired Army General of Chamba extraction.
“In 1975 TY Danjuma pushed for a Chieftaincy gazette that sought to include his kinsmen, Chamba, in the ruling houses of Takum for ascension to the paramount throne that is the preserve of the Kuteb tribe. That did not see the light of the day as it was an administrative fiat and a coup against the people. In 1997, Danjuma Masterminded a disturbing map of Takum that divided Takum into 2 segments without geographic continuity in land. That was in his quest to concentrate his kinsmen in Takum against geographical delineation and right to self determination.
“In 1998, TY also orchestrated an ethnic cleansing campaign that burnt down all the property of Kuteb in Takum, killing hundreds and rendering 80% of Takum down desolate and left in uninhabitable ruins. Since this period, the Kuteb nation has never known peace. TY and his chamber people invite war to the Kuteb communities, killing and displacing thousands of people from April 2022 till date by the use of hired bandits.
“Governor Kefas’ agitation to rotate the seat of “UKWE Takum” with other tribes by changing the title is ominous, inimical and pretentious as it is aimed to steal what does not belong to him. We challenge the Governor who is daring the heritage of the Kuteb nation to expand this grievous sacrilege to Wukari, his home local government and abolish the title of “Aku Uka” and equally rotate traditional stool of Wukari.
“We equally challenge Governor Kefas to expand this gesture to all first class traditional stools in the state and test-run it starting with the throne of Emir of Jalingo.
“We wish to call on President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defense staff, IG of Police, DG DSS, DG NIA, traditional rulers (Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife), the Aku-Uka of Wukari, Taraba state traditional council and all men of good conscience to call on Kefas and speaker Taraba State House of Assembly to refrain from this action, withdraw the bill, correct Takum boundary and hand over the staff of office to Ukwe Takum,” the statement read.
Where are all these massive security in Takum coming from? For over 2 years kutebland has been at the mercy of hired mercenaries masquarading as herdsmen killing, maimming women and children and wantonly destryoying farm produce without intervention of the state governor. But suddenly, in order to protect this bareface daylight robbery, the government can deploy this massive security assets of state to stir up crisis over the ambition of one man bent on altering centuries old dynasty simply because they control instruments of state? Nigeria has been placed on self-destruct mode by the Kefas administration. Every politician can now cite the Kefas experience to inject his tribe or loyalist into any existing traditional institution in the land. God save our land, save your people.