Don't Create Kona Chiefdom On Mumuye Land, Group writes Gov. Ishaku
A socio-cultural group, Mumuye Leadership, has called on the Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku, to as a matter urgency halt the planned creation of Kona Chiefdom on Mumuye Land, saying creation of the said chiefdom could lead to clashes among resident in the area.
The group which consists of leaders of Mumuye leaders in Jalingo, Ardo Kola, and Lau Local Government Areas of the state said that the call had become imperative after it realised that creation of the chiefdom would amount to injustice to people of Mumuye.
The Mumuye leaders through an open letter written to the Governor, maintained that the were the original inhabitants of the area before the Kona migrated to the area.
They claimed that creating a chiefdom for Kona meant that the over 120,000, Mumuye people would be ruled no fewer than 3,000 population people of Kona.
"We reject in total any idea of resuscitating any Kona Chiefdom to include any Mumuye man and woman. We are sure beyond a reasonable doubt that we have nothing to learn from Kona and we do not need their leadership in a form and for any reason
"We state categorically that nobody sought our opinion on the creation of the chiefdoms and we are not going to be part of it for any reason. On the chiefdom of Nyadan, we categorically state that Nyandan came from Adamawa State, they started entering Mumuye and Donadda land 1934, they are outright tenants in Lau Local Government, they do not own one inch of land and will never own it.
"We the Mumuye voted massively for PDP and your Excellency Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku. The minimum we expect from you is a consultation with us in our affairs. The Kona as a group are not sincere in their dealings with the Mumuye people, in Taraba State, we will have nothing to benefit from their leadership, and is not acceptable.
"Shomo, Jole, and Kunini migrated from Karim Lamido Local Government to meet us in the current Lau Local Government and they are 10% of our population. The Mumuye in Lau, Ardo-Kola, and Jalingo Local Governments consider your appointments of Kona, Bakula, and Nyandan Chiefdoms to include any Mumuye man and woman a major step in the wrong direction, we advise that you take a step backward, consult widely, and take a correct step. Any attempt to forcefully subdue us in order to rule our people by force will be resisted," the letter read in part.
Read full letter below
MUMUYE LEADERSHIP IN JALINGO, ARDO KOLA AND LAU LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF TARABA STATE
OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF TARABA STATE
HIS EXCELLENCY ARC. DARIUS DICKSON ISHAKU
Dear Sir,
With full respect.
We have made every effort to be as diplomatic as possible to you in view of our respect for you in persons and your exalted office.
We have observed, however, our message is not clearly understood or acted upon, we have therefore decided in order to save our honor, mother land and right of the Mumuye Man to call a spade a spade.
We hereby state categorically that;
1. The Mumuye in Ardo Kola and Jalingo Local Governments we are more in number than Kona in same area and Kona migrated to this palace and met us. We do therefore not exist in Kona land, but it is Kona that are living in Mumuye land.
2. We the Mumuye in Lau Local Government constitute 6 village heads, with total population of 120,000. The Fulani and Hausa have 6 village areas with population of 70,000. Donadda is Kachalla village head. Those who call themselves Bakula have 3 areas namely Lau Asali, Shomo and Kunini with total population of 15,000 people just 10% of Mumuye population. You appointed a chief of Bakula call Nyawo who is of Kunini tribe; interestingly the territory you assign to him does not include Kunini itself. There is Kunini area and the Kunini have population of 3,000 people, and even the 3,000 people have their village area with village head (ARDIDO KUNINI). They have nothing to do with the chief you have appointed what is the meaning of appointing a chief from people with 3,000 population to come and rule population of 120,000, are you saying the Mumuye are 2nd class citizens.
3. We reject in total any idea of resuscitating any Kona Chiefdom to include any Mumuye man and woman
4. We are sure beyond reasonable doubt that we have nothing to learn from Kona and we do not need their leadership in a form and for any reason
5. We state categorically that nobody sought our opinion on the creation of the chiefdoms and we are not going to be part of it for any reason
6. On the chiefdom of Nyadan we categorically state that Nyandan came from Adamawa State, they started entering Mumuye and Donadda land 1934, they are outright tenants in Lau Local Government, they do not own one inch of land and will never own it. The Nyandan were paying tax to Donadda and Jegam. The village head they are given is only to lead their tribe men.
7. Most of the Mumuye, we faithfully voted your party the PDP
8. Your speaker, the architect of appointing Nyawo has betrayed your great party by depriving you of the truth.
9. The Mumuye in Lau Local Government, we reject in total your appointment of Chief for Bakula to include Mumuye Areas.
10. Dr. Kobiba that is advising you, came to Lau Chiefdom as a child from Adamawa, we state that Nyadan are recent tenants in our land from Adamawa. They cannot and will not hold control over any tribe in Lau Local Government.
We want to summarize that,
1. We the Mumuye voted massively for PDP and your Excellency Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku. The Minimum we expect from you is consultation with us in our affairs.
2. The Kona as a group are not sincere in their dealings with the Mumuye people, in Taraba State, we will have nothing to benefit from their leadership and is not acceptable.
3. Shomo, Jole and Kunini migrated from Karim Lamido Local Government to meet us in current Lau Local Government and they are 10% of our population
4. The Kunini as a whole are about 3,000 people all together with only one polling unit
5. The Mumuye in Lau, Ardo-Kola and Jalingo Local Governments consider your appointments of Kona, Bakula and Nyandan Chiefdoms to include any Mumuye man and woman a major step in the wrong direction, we advise that you take a step backwards, consult widely and remake a correct step.
6. Any attempt to forcefully subdue us in order to rule our people by force will be resisted. All the legitimate resources available at our disposal.
7. Finally we begin to sense that there is grand conspiracy against the Mumuye people in Taraba State in order to subdue, suppress and annihilate us from both political and traditional systems.
We remain loyal to your Excellency and the Government of Taraba State.
Thank you.
Jalingo
1. Hon. Pastor Ezekiel ……………………….
2. Mr. Obed Ahmed ……………………….
3. Jauro Simon K. Gangara ……………………….
4. Simon Y. Tuwa ……………………….
5. Jauro Christopher A. Major ……………………….
Ardo Kola
1. Ganah Samaila Wakilin Mumuye
2. Jauro Mashi Philip Saleh
3. Andrew Santi Shadi
4. Francis D. Jassah
5. Sani Yusuf
Lau
1. Mr. James Abbar ……………………….
2. Mr. Ayuka Tanko ……………………….
3. Mr. Moses Ibrahim ……………………….
4. Mr. Abdullahi Jassa ……………………….
5. Barau Haggai ……………………….
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