By Amb Rikwense Muri
Southern Taraba, formerly known as the Wukari Federation, consisted of three Chiefdoms: Takum, Donga, and Wukari. Takum. originally a Kuteb Chiefdom was ruled by a Chief called Ukwe, Donga, a Chamba Chiefdom was ruled by Gara, and Wukari, a Jukun Chiefdom was ruled by Aku Uka. These Chiefs coexisted harmoniously, with Aku Uka serving as their Chairman in the Wukari Traditional Council.
Over time, the government has elevated these Chiefdoms to First Class Traditional Stools while retaining their ancient names.
Today Governor Kefas wants the Takum Chiefdom under the Ukwe Takum to be uprooted and has created a rotational stool known as Chief of Takum to be rotated by Chamba who already have their 1st class Chiefdom in Donga and Jukun who already have their 1st Class Chiefdom in Wukari.
He seems to be creating crisis but is telling the world that he has brought peace. Now the refusal of the Kuteb to share their 1st Class traditional stool in Takum with Jukun and Chamba because they already have theirs in Donga and Wukari is seen as rejection of peace by Governor Kefas who is telling the world that the issue of Banditry and Boundary crisis in Takum are nothing compared to the issue of Chieftaincy in Takum.
The Kuteb are in court challenging the Governor’s power to ignore their Paramount Ruler, Ukwe Ahmadu II and Creating a strange Rotational Chief of Takum stool for Kuteb, Chamba and Jukun in Takum when God in His divine Providence has already given each of them their traditional jurisdiction to rule.
If the Kuteb win the case at the Supreme court finally, the appointment of Chief Sopiya as Chief of Takum will be null and void. If the Kuteb lose in Court, it means all the traditional stools in Taraba State are at the mercy of the Governor who doesn’t just have the power to appoint and dethrone Kings but now have the power to destroy ancient Kingdoms and create new ones to suit his political agenda.
Will the Jukuns remain in power forever to serve the interest of the Chamba elites in Takum? Will the Chamba remain powerful forever to use state power to their political advantage?
Every day I just wonder the type of peace that Governor Kefas intends for Taraba especially in Takum.
I pray we don’t make a desolation and call it peace.