By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
A religious group in Taraba under the umbrella of, Kuteb Muslim Development Association, on Sunday, described the alleged planned demolition of the Takum Central Mosque by Taraba State Government as an affront on the traditional worship history of the Kuteb Muslims.
Alhaji Bako Mairiga, the association’s Chairman stated during a media briefing in Jalingo that the planned action on the Takum central mosque is an invitation of disunity among religious line.
The group expressed that a town like Takum that has witness series of unrest, does not require such ideas that may throw the local government into another form violence and disunity.
They called on governor Agbu Kefas to act, and ensure that the planed demolition is not executed.
He said, “The Ukwe Ahmadu, being a Muslim, the Kuteb people of the area saw the need to build the Takum Central Mosque in 1912, next to the Palace of Ukwe Takum to enable him and other Muslims in Takum worship there.
“To us as a peace loving group, we see the idea to demolish the central mosque along with the Ukwe Takum palace as an attempt to bring disunity among religious line.
“We wish to debunked here as falsehood, the claimed by Chamba Muslim Youth that the Kuteb in Takum once demolished a mosque in Takum and killed worshippers. We call on the entire Muslims and the general public to disregard the report, as it was targeted at blackmailing the good name of the Kuteb people.”
The KMDM chairman also lamented the insincerity on the part of Taraba state government, where her officials have given inconsistent defence over the planed demolition of the central mosque.
“There is contradiction on the proposed Demolition of the Central Mosque and Ukwe Palace as depicted by the Special Adviser to the Governor Kefas on Islamic Affairs, and the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation.
“Both the SA and the Commissioner contradicted their statement while responding to KYN allegation about the planed action on the central mosque and the Ukwe Takum palace. The SA said the planed demolition is aimed at promoting the development and welfare of Muslims in Takum and beyond, claiming that the initiative was welcomed by the Muslim Community, while the Commissioner for Information on the other hand, denied that government has no plan to demolish the facilities.
“This two contradictory statement needs to be question by spirited individuals to save the future of the Muslim community in the area,” the group condemned.
