Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
The Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), an umbrella body of the Kuteb ethnic nationality in Taraba state, has vowed to resist moves by Governor Ogbu Kefas, to instal former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, as the
“Ukwe Takum,” the paramount ruler of the Kutebs.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, president of KYN, Emmanuel Ukwen, said the Kuteb nation will resist any attempt by the state government to hand over its traditional stool to the former minister in the name of compensation for his developmental strides in the state.
Ukwen maintained that if the state government wants to honour Danjuma, he could be honoured with any traditional title, but not with the traditional stool of the Ukwe Takum which is an exclusive preserve of the Kuteb nation.
Danjuma belongs to the Jukun ethnic nationality with their paramount ruler, the Aku Uka in Wukari.
The KYN cautioned the governor against instigating crisis in the state by embarking on such venture.
The group also urged security chiefs in the state to focus on tackling the prevailing security challenges affecting state rather than allow the governor to stir mayhem in Kuteb land.
Ukwen said, “The attention of Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria, Likam and Akente ruling houses of Ukwe Takum has been drawn to the outcome of the consultative meeting, His Excellency, Governor Agbu Kefas, had with Likam and Akente ruling Houses of Ukwe Takum on Saturday, 20th day of January, 2024, wherein His Excellency told the ruling Houses of his resolve to demolish the Kuteb Takum Dynasty and do something else.
“The determination by the governor to honour Gen. T.Y. Danjuma (rtd) for his developmental strides in the state which is not in doubt, is commendable.
However, we wish to state emphatically that as lofty as such developments are, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma cannot be honoured with a traditional stool of Ukwe Takum or any other traditional stool in the state.
The KYN maintained that a “Traditional stool is distinct and separate from traditional title and so cannot be dished out to anybody outside the royal families.”
He said, “In this wise, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma can be honoured with a traditional title, not an existing chieftaincy stool.”
The group argued further that, “Ascension to traditional stools being subject to product of native law and customs are by inheritance.
“If this is allowed, even other traditional stools in the state will one day be given to any person in the state who had performed brilliantly and credibly well in his developmental strides. God forbid”.
Ukwen said, “The Kuteb see the Ukwe Takum stool as the inheritance of their fathers and have no reason whatsoever to give or share it with any other non-Kuteb under whatsoever guise.
“We wish to humbly state further that the position of His Excellency recently to destroy the Kuteb Dynasty of Ukwe Takum, has no root and is quite unacceptable.
“We also wish to inform His Excellency that the Ukwe Takum stool is not an exclusive affair of the Likam and Akenten ruling houses but a Kuteb nation affairs as a whole.
“So by always inviting the Akenten and Likam only to discuss the Ukwe Takum issue is not good enough.”
The group also alleged that, “The governor also told Kuteb delegation in a meeting on Saturday, 20th January, 2024 that all Kuteb leaders are dead and that Kuteb have enemies around them e.g. Tiv, Chamba, Fulanis, adding that how would they succeed as they have no one to stand for them.
“The governor failed to remind himself that the Wukari people also fought with Tivs, Fulanis and Hausas. Does it then mean that Wukari people will not succeed?
The KYN also drew the attention of traditional rulers in the state to that fact that they came to the throne of their fore-fathers through inheritance and should advise the governor on the right things to do in the case of Takum Ukwe stool.
“They are custodians of tradition and customs and should protect it anywhere at all cost. The should be mindful of nemesis…”
The group called on Kuteb youths to remain calm, law abiding and be cautious of the misuse of social media.
