From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
Youths group under the umbrella of Kuteb Youths Forum, have written an open letter to the Governor of Taraba State, Dr Agbu Kefas, after their critical meeting with the governor at Government House Jalingo.
The youths in an open letter signed by the Secretary KYF, Mr Danjuma Rimamnde insisted that the Takum Chieftaincy stool is the birthright and inheritance of the two ruling houses of Likam and Akente and should not in any way, be subjected to any rotational formula or any thing similar.
The group which said it stands with the decision of the Kuteb traditional committee on non-rotation of the Ukwe Takum stool, noted that the stool is governed by custom and traditions and is recognized by Taraba State chieftaincy laws which is not in consonance with the political and social pandemonium in the Niger- Delta led by Tompolo.
“Sequel to your Excellency’s statement that, you have solved much worrisome issues in the Niger- Delta compare to the UKWE STOOL of Takum, we want to states that traditional stools are sacred and represents culture and custom of the aboriginal which is quite different from political and social affairs as seen in other places.
“It is worthy of note that Takum Ukwe stool is governed by custom and traditions and is recognized by Taraba State chieftaincy laws which is not in consonance with the political and social pandemonium in the Niger- Delta led by Tompolo.
“Your Excellency sir, the kuteb youths look at any action to erase the existing history in respect of UKWE Takum as an outright confrontation to the kuteb race as a people. And any attempt to distort the existing history concerning the stool of UKWE Takum will amount to injustice to the entire kuteb as a people.
“Never in the history of Africa traditional settings has any sequence of traditional leadership lineage that has existed for centuries been destroyed to allow a new dynasty being established or created. This is unacceptable, strange and alien. We in totality reject the proposal by Your Excellency to create three chiefdoms in Takum undermining the existing Ukwe stool.
“To the best of our knowledge, there are existing laws that gave legal backing to the traditional stool of UKWE Takum. We hereby refer Your Excellency to Taraba State chieftaincy laws from 1991 till date. It is therefore, worrisome for someone to mislead Your Excellency that the stool of UKWE Takum was never in existence”.
