The non release of funds for the the burial of the late Chairman of Taraba Traditional Council, Aku Uka, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi, has pitched governor Darius Ishaku against his Jukun kinsmen.
The paramount ruler of the Jukun nation, died in October 2021, after reigning for 45 years.
His his funeral rites is scheduled to commence on the 14th of January, 2022, and a committee was put in place by the Wukari Traditional Council, to accord the late monarch a befitting burial.
According to reports by THISDAY newspaper, upon inauguration, the committee wrote a letter to the Taraba state government requesting for funds to begin the processes for the burial rites.
However, after waiting for several weeks without response from the state government, the Secretary of the Wukari Traditional Council, Mr. Bala Useni, wrote an open letter on behalf of the committee to all sons and daughters of Kwararafa Kingdom, soliciting for funds for the burial rites.
According to the report, the open letter soliciting for funds from individuals did not go down well with Governor Ishaku who expressed his displeasure through a press release dated 4th January, 2022 and signed by his spokesman, Bala Dan Abu.
The governor stated that the steps taken by the committee was distasteful and embarrassing to the state government and the entire Kwararafa race.
Barely 24 hours later and apparently in compliance with the governor’s directive, the Secretary of the Wukari Traditional Council issued another statement urging the public to disregard the earlier letter soliciting for funds saying “The Council further regrets any inconveniences the letter might have caused.”
THISDAY reports that a group under the auspices of Jukun Youth in Diaspora, in a swift reaction condemned the governor for abandoning the funeral rites for the burial of Aku Uka.
The group, in a statement signed by its leader, Ezekiel Apaji, maintained that the Wukari Traditional Council and the committee had no choice but to solicit for open donation.
The group wondered why the traditional institution in the state, which had hitherto enjoyed government patronage under previous administrations would become a subject of ridicule when their own son is the governor.
“For the record, we want to state that our traditional rulers have never been hungry and ruled with an empty stomach in the history of our land as when our son becomes a governor.
“During His Excellency former Governor Rev. Jolly T. Nyame, we got a befitting Palace with outstanding allowances that made the traditional council enviable of all sons and daughters of the land and during His Excellency late Pharm. Danbaba D. Suntai, the status quo was maintained but for the past six years, we know how these councils were left unfunded and abandoned with months of outstanding salaries.
“We, therefore, stand with the Wukari Traditional Council even though it is against our culture to go begging but it is better to beg than to steal or covet people’s property.”
The governor has however promised to be adequately involved in the ceremony.
