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Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas
By Anthony Maliki, Abuja
Kuteb indigenes living in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State have resolved not to be dragged into crisis following the appointment of some chiefs and a rotational First Class Chief.
This was made known by the Coordinator, Musa Danladi Rimande, at a press briefing in Jalingo Sunday under the umbrella of Kuteb Peace Movement.
Rimande said “We want to call on our war thirsty leaders and stakeholders who are mainly in Abuja and Jalingo to let us embrace peace and dialogue. What peace and dialogue cannot resolve; war cannot achieve it.
Here is the full text of the press briefing:
PRESS BRIEFING BY KUTEB INDIGENES LIVING IN TAKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF KUTEB PEACE MOVEMENT, KPM HELD IN TAKUM ON SUNDAY 10TH MARCH, 2024.
We pay homage to our ancestors and all late Ukwe Takum.Ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer news that the TAKUM chieftaincy issue has triggered a lot of reactions and counter reactions in the last few weeks.
Though the Ukwe TAKUM stool has been vacant for decades, but the recent renewed commitment of the Taraba State Government under the administration of Dr. Agbu Kefas to install the First Class traditional ruler of Takum with an arrangement of rotating the stool among the Kuteb, Chamber and Kpanzon people and changing the name of the First Class stool from “Ukwe Takum” to “Chief of Takum” has visibly raised a lot of dust that is yet to be settled.
Most of you must have come across statements and utterances that unarguably portend serious threats to the peaceful co-existence of our people in the affected area and probably beyond.
This is indeed a bad omen for a state like ours that is still struggling to catch up with other states in terms of development.
It is pertinent to note that crises is never the best option to settling disputes and that is why We Kuteb people indigenously from Takum Local Government have come together under a new umbrella called Kuteb Peace Movement to declare our readiness to dialogue afresh with the government and stakeholders in Taraba over the Takum chieftaincy issue.
The position of the government is a painful pill that should be considered in the interest of peace. We are calling on the Kuteb Nation to retreat back home. We are not ready for another war.
Blood have spilled, hundreds of lives have been lost to what a peaceful talk can resolve.It may be true that mistakes might have been made but there’s always a window for correction through dialogue.
The Kutebs particularly those living in Takum are not fighting the government or anybody, however the government must continue to assure us of their sincerity and inclusion in the affairs of Takum both political and traditional because we are aborigines of the land. We have consulted with our elders and stakeholders who are peacefully living in Takum and have commence a process to review our position on the government proposal.
Thus we present the following conditions to the government: The Kutebs living in Takum must be protected in their ancestral lands because we are aborigines of the area.
Preservation of Kuteb cultural heritage and the present Ukwe Takum palace must be handed over to the Kuteb Nation because of it being a center of Kuteb history and traditions.
Many of our ancestors were laid in the palace.Kuteb festivals and traditional rituals will be allowed in Takum within the ambits of the law. Kutebs in Civil service, political public offices must not be victimized, suppressed or intimidated.
Fair political sharing of public offices in Takum Local Government Above all, we the Kutebs calls on the Taraba State Government to focus on how our people can to return to our lands and settlements currently occupied by bandits.
Places like Fawen; Bassang; Kpashi; Muji 1 and 2; Tati; Kpashimbe; Gamgum etc Our people are willing to live in peace with our brothers Kpanzon and friends Chamba under an arrangement that will be mutually beneficial to all of us.
We want to call on our war thirsty leaders and stakeholders who are mainly in Abuja and Jalingo to let us embrace peace and dialogue. What peace and dialogue cannot resolve; war cannot achieve it.
This government meant well for all, the prompt re-construction of Ussa General hospital, appointments of Kutebs sons and daughters into key government committees shows that the Agbu Kefas Administration is not out to undermine the Kuteb Nation.
Remember, A good father will not lead his children to war.Thank you for your attention.
Signed
Musa Danladi Rimande KPM
Coordinator
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