The Taraba State government expressed disappointment as the Kuteb ruling house chose to abstain from a meeting organized by the Bureau of Traditional, Chieftaincy, and Local Government Affairs. The meeting was convened to discuss the rotation of the Takum stool among the three major tribes in the council.
During a press briefing in Jalingo on Monday, Governor Dr. Agbu Kafes conveyed that the absence of the Kuteb ruling house wouldn’t hinder the ongoing peace-building endeavors initiated by the government in response to Takum residents’ demands.
The dispute arises from the Kuteb ruling house’s refusal to engage in meetings convened by the State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to facilitate the installation of three 3rd class chiefs and one first-class monarch in Takum town. Governor Kafes recently endorsed this move through an executive-sponsored bill.
Despite invitations from the state ministry, the Kuteb kingmakers declined to attend, citing concerns about potential reprisals from their community. The bill, supported by the State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Tradition, and Chieftaincy Affairs, aims to establish three third-class stools alongside the first-class monarch position.
Addressing these concerns at a press conference, Commissioner Jalingo reiterated the government’s commitment to honoring the people’s wishes and ensuring a smooth transition of leadership in Takum. She emphasized the governor’s determination not to be swayed by any faction seeking to obstruct the people’s will.
The installation of the first-class monarch, set to rotate among the Chamba, Kuteb, and Jukun-Takum ethnic groups, aims to fill the void left by the passing of Ukwe Ali Ibrahim Kufang II in 1996. However, the Kuteb ruling house opposes the rotational arrangement, citing the historical significance of the Ukwe traditional stool, which traces its origins back to 1510 and gained official recognition in 1914 before being elevated to a third-class status.
