We Have Right To Takum Throne - Chamba Group Fires Kutebs
•Warns Against Insulting TY Danjuma, Aku Uka
The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Nyatooh Bibonga said historical records favours the Chamba tribes on the rulership of Takum Town and Chamba like any other ethnic have the right to contest the Takum Chieftaincy stool.
The Chamba Group is a body of self-employed professionals of ethnic Chamba origins cutting across southern Taraba and parts of Taraba state at large said the history of Takum its cultures and traditions contain the indelible marks and contribution of Chambas and whatever can be said about the town can never be complete without mentioning the role of Chambas.
"Historical records have it that both the Chambas and Kutebs have taking turns to rule the town. The fact that the last Chamba ruler of Takum was deposed in 1914 did not mean Chambas have been excluded from rulership of the town. The deposition was to one man not the entire ethnicity. And with passage of time, nothing says that the Chambas cannot aspire or be considered to rule the town.
"If government sees the wisdom to reverse the injustice done to Chambas since 1914 and decides to restore them as is their right in the rulership of Takum, we cannot quarrel with that. Ironically the same people who are questioning the right of our indigenous government to make laws in respect of Takum Chieftaincy in the interest of Justice are holding on to the unjust decision of a foreign colonial government to exclude the Chambas as their alibi for their claim to exclusive ownership to the Takum Traditional stool. What is good for the Kutebs should also be good for the Chambas in Takum," the statement reads in part.
Dr Nyatooh Bibonga added that the Kutebs have thrown decorum to the wind and resorted to attacking and distorting anything Chamba including our history, traditional rulers and tradition, customs, personalities etc.
The group said the Kuteb seem to have run berserk abusing the revered Aku Uka of Wukari and the respected Jukun tradition council.
"They have not spared the Executive Governor of Taraba state Dr Agbu Kefas as well as the Taraba state house of Assembly. They have threatened war against the Chamba and anybody else who does not support their cause.
"Pointedly the Kutebs have singled out revered elder statesman of no mean repute in Nigeria and Africa and indeed the world, Lt. General TY Danjuma (rtd) for the vilest abuse and insults.
"They have singled him out as the main cause of what they believe is an attempt to take away their sole right to the Takum traditional stool by the government of Taraba state."
The Chamba group said it will continue to remain law abiding, support government where necessary and when called upon to do so on the matter at hand the Chamba people will however remain vigilant against advertised threats to their existence by poorly bred, misguided elements whose stock in trade is unleashing mayhem on innocent, law abiding persons.
Full Press statement
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE TAKUM CHIEFTAINCY ISSUE AND RELATED MATTERS
The Chamba Renaissance Group is a body of self-employed professionals of ethnic Chamba origins cutting across southern Taraba and parts of Taraba state at large.
We are dedicated to doing good works through peace advocacy, philanthropy, and charity, assistance to the needy and vulnerable and above all respect to modern and traditional authority, our tradition and elders in society.
We have like everyone else monitored keenly developments concerning the Takum Chieftaincy Issue and the role of various stakeholders pertaining to the matter. Unlike others however while closely following the issue we have chosen to do so without interfering or weighing in with tendentious and vitriolic statements that will rather complicate the issue more. This is because we recognise that chieftaincy issues anywhere are complex and sensitive matters that require handling with care so as to allow the authorities under whose purview it is, to decide on the matter satisfactorily.
To our dismay however, our Kuteb brothers one of the stakeholders in the Takum chieftaincy issue and with whom we have and still share many things including space and territories, marriages, educational and human development in Takum Local Government and environs have chosen to go on the offensive attacking the Chamba people in the media. In their attempt to stake their claim to the Takum traditional stool which is in the process of being reviewed by the both the Taraba state House of Assembly and the Executive arm of government, they have thrown decorum to the wind and resorted to attacking and distorting anything Chamba including our history, traditional rulers and tradition, customs, personalities etc. Indeed the Kuteb seem to have run berserk abusing the revered Aku Uka of Wukari and the respected Jukun tradition council. They have not spared the Executive Governor of Taraba state Dr Agbu Kefas as well as the Taraba state house of Assembly. They have threatened war against the Chamba and anybody else who does not support their cause.
Pointedly the Kutebs have singled out revered elder statesman of no mean repute in Nigeria and Africa and indeed the world, Lt. General TY Danjuma (rtd) for the vilest abuse and insults. They have singled him out as the main cause of what they believe is an attempt to take away their sole right to the Takum traditional stool by the government of Taraba state.
Incidentally the general was recently in Takum to commission projects that would be of benefit to the people of Takum generally without exception and discrimination. Indeed he had taken the pains to cite the world class university he is building in an area contiguous to Kuteb settlements. This shows his even handed disposition as a benefactor of all and sundry in Takum, southern Taraba and indeed Taraba state as a whole.
That the Chamba Renaissance Group has remained calm in the face of these unwarranted provocations is in keeping with the well-known Chamba disposition as law abiding and respect for constituted authority. Everybody knows that the Chamba person by training and tradition is humble and abhors controversy. But it must also be noted that when pushed to the wall and when his patience is stretched beyond the limit of tolerance, the Chamba man will do everything to defend himself. And we have proven this time and time in our history.
On the instant issue of the Takum traditional stool, the CRG as earlier stated has chosen to remain calm and law abiding believing and trusting that the Taraba state government will do justice to all the parties involved as it has pledged. By the same token we will not engage in acts inimical to peace or seek to distract the government through threats and acts of disobedience to constituted authority.
For the avoidance of doubt the Chamba like any other ethnic have the right to contest the Takum Chieftaincy stool. The Chamba have contributed and are still contributing their quota in the development of Takum. They have laid and built landmarks in the town dating back centuries. The history of Takum its cultures and traditions contain the indelible marks and contribution of Chambas and whatever can be said about the town can never be complete without mentioning the role of Chambas.
And this extends to the rulership of the town which is now in contention. Because of the unique nature of the town with its three major ethnic groups holding sway, governments from colonial to present day have seen the need to give all of them a chance to rule the town. Historical records have it that both the Chambas and Kutebs have taking turns to rule the town. The fact that the last Chamba ruler of Takum was deposed in 1914 did not mean Chambas have been excluded from rulership of the town. The deposition was to one man not the entire ethnicity. And with passage of time, nothing says that the Chambas cannot aspire or be considered to rule the town. If government sees the wisdom to reverse the injustice done to Chambas since 1914 and decides to restore them as is their right in the rulership of Takum, we cannot quarrel with that. Ironically the same people who are questioning the right of our indigenous government to make laws in respect of Takum Chietaincy in the interest of Justice are holding on to the unjust decision of a foreign colonial government to exclude the Chambas as their alibi for their claim to exclusive ownership to the Takum Traditional stool. What is good for the Kutebs should also be good for the Chambas in Takum.
But let it be noted that while we will remain law abiding and even support government where necessary and when called upon to do so on the matter at hand the Chamba people will however remain vigilant against advertised threats to their existence by poorly bred, misguided elements whose stock in trade is unleashing mayhem on innocent, law abiding persons. To those who have threatened to attack Chamba people in Takum and elsewhere on account of the Takum Chieftaincy issue let them know that our people will not be caught unawares by any attempted attack. Our people stand ready to legitimately defend themselves by any means necessary.
Enough is enough and we believe a word is also enough for the wise if they are truly so.
Dr Nyatooh Bibonga
Chairman
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