By Femi Bolaji,

Elders of the Kuteb Ethnic group in Taraba State have raised concerns over the proposed rotation of the First Class Traditional Stool of Takum Local Government by the state government.

This follows an announcement on Monday by the State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Traditional, and Chieftaincy Affairs of a public hearing on the executive bill to create one rotational 1st Class Chief and three 3rd class Chiefs in Takum town.

The 1st Class Traditional Stool of Takum has been vacant since 1996, due to rival ethnic nationalities claiming ownership of it.

In a statement by Ande Filli, made available to newsmen, the Kuteb elders claimed that the rotation of the 1st class stool would subjugate them to other minority tribes in the area.

According to the statement, “the content of the bill seeks to erase the title of the paramount ruler of Takum, ‘Ukwe Takum,’ from the Kuteb language and replace it with ‘Kuru Takum’ from the Jukun language.

“This bill, which seeks the erasure of the UKWE title of the first class stool of Takum and also seeks to introduce rotation of the first class stool with two (2) other tribes of different customs and traditions, falls short of the law of natural justice and beats the tenets of morality.

“It will not only break the Kuteb traditional dynasty but also erase the first class stool of Kuteb and subjugate Kuteb to the rulership of minority tribes that have never ruled Takum.

“We wish to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defense Staff, IG of Police, DG DSS, DG NIA, traditional rulers (Sultan of Sokoto and Ooni of Ife), Aku-Uka, Taraba traditional council, and all men of good conscience to call on Governor Kefas and Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly to refrain from this action, withdraw the bill, rectify the Takum boundary, and properly hand over the staff of office to Ukwe Takum.”