By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Kuteb Community of Taraba State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the federal government of Nigeria and the forum of traditional rulers in the country to intervene in the over 28 years vacant first class stool of Takum (Ukwe Takum), in Taraba.
Our correspondent reports that Taraba State House of Assembly had on Wednesday held a public hearing for an executive bill submitted to the house by the state Governor Dr Agbu Kefas, seeking the creation of one rotational first class and three third class chief in Takum town, Takum local government.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the executive bill is also seeking to change the title of the paramount ruler of Takum, “Ukwe Takum”, from Kuteb language and replace it with “Kuru Takum” in Jukun language.
Although, the state house of Assembly during the public hearing, promised to ensure equity in the matter for peace in the area.
In a joint press conference yesterday in Jalingo by the two ruling house of the (Ukwe Takum), and the Kuteb Youths, the community expressed that the Ukwe stool was an exclusive reserve for the Kuteb people, which has also been limited to only two ruling houses of Likam and Akente.
Barrister Prince Sule Yusu, on behalf of the ruling houses and Barrister Ande Yakubu, on behalf of the youth expressed that the state government step to dismantle a stool that has been in existence for 100 years is an invitation of anarchy.
“We want to appeal to president Bola Tinubu, the federal government and the forum of traditional rulers to intervene in the Traditional stool of Takum (Ukwe Takum), and stop Taraba state government from every attempt to rotate or change the title of the stool.
“The Ukwe stool is an exclusive right and traditional dynasty of the Kuteb people that can not be rotate with any tribe. We wonder the interest governore Kefas have that is trying to dismantle the stool that has been in existence for over 100 years and rename it in another language.
“Just recently at Lugard house in Kaduna during the northern Traditional rulers meeting, the Sultan of Sokoto warned against interfering in people’s custom and tradition, that the right thing must be done in installing traditional ruler in any of the vacant stool. We want governore Kefas to revisit Sultan’s statement and do the right thing.
“We want to let the whole world know that the Kuteb people are not against governore Kefas in anyway but we will not be part of any change on the first class stool of Takum. The Ukwe Takum stool was established by the custom and tradition of the Kuteb people, and as such, is the exclusive reserve of the Kuteb, and can never be rotated,” they expressed.
