Ukwe Takum: Destroying Kuteb Dynasty will amount to asking for head of Kuteb – Leaders tell Gov Kefas
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
Following the controversial stand of the Government of Taraba State over the First Class stool of Ukwe Takum, Kuteb leaders have vowed that should the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas Turned round to destroy Kuteb Dynasty to allow other tribes ascend the throne, the situation would amount to the governor asking for the head of entire Kuteb race.
At a press Conference organised by Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN) in conjunction with Likam and Akente Ruling Houses of Ukwe Takum in Jalingo, the National President of Kuteb Yatso, Comrade Emmanuel Ukwen, maintained that Kuteb people see the UKWE TAKUM STOOL as the inheritance of their fathers and have no reason whatsoever to give or Share it with any other no-Kuteb under whatsoever guise.
He expressed dismay over the sudden controversial stand of the governor, Dr Agbu Kefas on the already existing traditional stool of Ukwe Takum, stating that the Paramount Ruler of Takum was undoubtedly, an existing Stool based on Kuteb Native Law and Custom as such, destroying the Dynasty to allow others ascend the throne had no root
“The attention of Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), 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.
“We wish to bring to the attention of the public that the Journey for the paramount Rulership of Takum known and called “UKWE TAKUM” started as far back as 1510. Later when the Colonial Masters after due findings and consultations, came to the irresistible conclusion in 1914 to upgrade Ukwe Ahmadu Gankwe (who was already Ukwe in the Kuteb succession lineage since 1912 as the Paramount Ruler (Ukwe) of Takum. He reigned for fourteen (14) Years and was succeeded by several others
“Following the lingering crisis in the Paramount Rulership of Takum, several Federal Government and State Government Commission of inquiries, Panels, Committees and Intellectual Write Ups on the Paramount Rulership of Takum were set up and they have all recommended that the “Ukwe Takum” Stool is an exclusive preserve of the Kuteb Ruling Houses of AKENTE and LIKAM.
“Taraba State Government in order to put an end to all the issues, accepted all the recommendations of the Commissions, Panels, and Committees that were set, sealed same by issuing a GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER on 28th day of April, 2021 directing the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to set in motion the machinery for the appointment of new “UKWE TAKUM”.
“We also had a meeting with the Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas in Jalingo and Wukari, where His Excellency assured us that he, being from a Royal lineage has no intention whatsoever to tamper with any already existing traditional set up.
“Now in the determination by the Governor to honour Gen. T.Y. Danjuma for his developmental strides in the State which is not in doubt, we wish to State emphatically that as lofty as such developments are, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma cannot be honored with a traditional Stool of UKVWE TAKUM or any other traditional Stool in the State
“We as a people know that though General Danjuma is a mentor of Governor Agbu Kefas but we also believe that he being a prince knows the value of maintaining the culture of inheritance in traditional leadership succession process;
We know Dr, Agbu Kefas as an astute preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, an intelligent conflict resolution scholar, an advocate, a retired military officer who knows the need to protect Iives and property of citizens; a democratic Governor who has surrounded himself with government officlals with great knowiedge and experience of administration for good governance; we therefore believe that the Governor for the sake of his integrity would not want to stoop low to abuse the state powers vested on him as Governor of Taraba State.
“We also wish to inform His Excellency Gov. Kefas Agbu that 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”. He narrated
Mr Emmanuel Ukwen, further emphasized that the method of selection and appointment of Ukwe Takum being contemplated by the Governor is unknown to Kuteb and was never applied in the Cases of Aku Uka, Gara Donga, Lamdo Gashaka, Chief of Mambila and Kpanti Zing in the state
While calling on traditional leaders and security agencies to advise the governor on the right things to do to avoid igniting crisis in the area, Comrade Ukwen stated that if the Governor allowed the Ukwen Stool to be used to honour Gen T. Y, then even other traditional Stools in the State would one day be given to any person in the State who had performed brilliantly and credibly well in his developmental strides.
