Panic, despair loom in the traditional institution, as Taraba State declares for only chiefs and emirs
By our Correspondent
A sense of eerie feeling and foreboding has enveloped the Taraba State traditional institution, as Taraba State Government has vowed to identify with only the appellation of chiefs and emirs in the state, even as it vows to prosecute any community that gives or promotes any traditional title across ethnic lines.
However, some ethnic groups view the move as a deliberate plan by the Governor Kefas led administration, to further emasculate their cultural identity.
This position of the Taraba State government is contained in a press conference by the Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government, Traditions and Chieftaincy Affairs, headed by Engr. Godfrey Dame Andrew.
According to the press briefing which attracted a large number of Journalists across the state, only emir and chief titles are recognized by Taraba State Traditional Council law are considered as legal. The briefing further clarified that the existing law of the state does not recognize any ethnic or tribal council. Government also declared illegal, any traditional title that does not have a hereditary antecedent.
To demonstrate the seriousness of government, the release warns that any ethnic group found parading any person as a traditional ruler will be prosecuted.
“By the Traditional and Chieftaincy Law of Taraba State, there is no tribal or ethnic council. What we have are only the traditional council and the emirate council, all headed by graded Chiefs and Emirs. In other words, the existing law does not recognize any ethnic or tribal council.
” I want to categorically state that the Bureau will not recognize any person or group, institution, paradeding himself or herself as a traditional ruler.
“Moreover, it is hereditary, which implies that nobody can just wake up one day to appoint or be appointed as a traditional ruler in a Chiefdom… Therefore, any ethnic group found parading any person as a traditional ruler will be prosecuted.” The release stated in part.
By the release, uncertainly looms on the already existing traditional leadership titles of the state, especially those that area tied on the apron of the ethnicity. Already, some critical stakeholders are interpreting the position of government, as explicated in the press statement as a war against some ethnic groups that the government of Taraba State thrives to emasculate. Rikwensi Muri, a public affairs analyst views it as another government missiles fashioned against his people, the Kuteb people of Taraba State.
“Recently, we embarked on a voter register sensitization campaign in which we visited all traditional rulers in our Federal Constituency. In Takum we visited Ukwe Takum, Ukwe kpanti, Maiangwa Chamba, and the Sarkin Hausawa. In Yangtu, we visited the kwu of Bika and Kwe Kwambai. In Ussa, we visited the Ukwe Lissam, in Donga we visited the Gara of Donga. Many people expected us to visit Sopiya, we did not visit him, why because we did not recognize him as a traditional ruler. “Now, Sopiya came to the Bureau and begged them that he has no respect or recognition in Takum because they gave him a job and nobody is recognizing him. So, the Bureau released that statement to pacify Sopiya, not for any chiefdom in Taraba and not for public interest.
“In Hausa parlance, what the Bureau did is called “burin kunya”. The Bureau thought they could impose tradition and culture of the people, they forgot that it is their job to preserve and protect the culture of the tradition of the people.
“The tradition and culture of the people existed before Nigerian nation, therefore any policy that is designed to stifle the culture of the people, just because of political expedience, will not work. We love the progress of Taraba State, but we will not allow any person to undermine our values and tradition.” He stated.
President General, Taraba State Tiv People Cultural and Social Association, Comrade James Baka described the statement as shocking, even as he insists that he will disclose the position of the association at a later time.
“It will not be fair for me to issue a statement on the position of the Tiv of Taraba State to that effect because we are still studying the document. In the end, we might seek clarification from the Bureau on the statement as its effect our people. Because I did not believe what I read.
“But here we are, in the history of the state, we did not fall within the clarification of chiefs and emirs, are far as values, culture and tradition are concern. Yet we decided to select among us a council of elders, in the appellation of Tiv Traditional Leaders across the local governments that the population of our people are visible. This is just for the purpose our preserving and promoting our cultural and traditional identity. On the other hand, Through the traditional leaders, we also coordinate our people in line with government policies and how best we can deepen our peaceful relationship with our neighbours. Nothing more, nothing less.
“We have all our allegiance tied to the functionality of government, from the hierarchy of traditional rulers, local government structure and then state government and beyond. And this is what we have been practising in the state for the past three decades.
“For now, I don’t know if our traditional leadership structure falls within the category that the Bureau has outlawed or not. That is why I said, we will seek clarification.
“But one thing is clear. People must have their leaders. Since we are human beings, we must have our leaders too, we don’t have to negotiate for that. Even in the animal kingdom, herds are led by leaders. But we are not animals. We are human beings. We have the right to live as a creation of God Almighty and we have the freedom of association, including that of choosing one among us to be our rallying point.
“We are not slaves to anybody. Just like in every household there is a leader, that is the kind of leadership that we have in the state as a people. I don’t think our traditional leadership arrangement falls within the purview of the Bureau’s briefing. But we will find out.
“Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration is government of justice and fairness. I think the Bureau is quoting him out of context. But whatever is the outcome, we will make the position of our people known in due course” The Tiv cultural Leader told our reporter.
