Crisis Brews In Taraba As Governor Kefas Set To Demolish Historical Sites, Central Mosque For TY Danjuma Varsity
There is palpable tension in Taraba State after a community accused Governor Agbu Kefas of planning to demolish a Central Mosque and some historical sites for the T.Y. Danjuma University in Takum.
The community also claimed that the government plans to demolish historical sites consisting of graves and artifacts within the palace of the king (Ukwe) of Kuteb in the Takum Local Government Area of the state.
The Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), a cultural umbrella body of Kuteb speaking people on Saturday, accused Governor Kefas of planning to demolish the Takum Central Mosque and the Ukwe Takum’s palace in the Takum Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters can report that there was apprehension in Takum town throughout Thursday and Friday as residents were seen running from different directions when the rumour of the planned demolition of the mosque and the Ukwe palace filtered into the town.
Chief Emmanue Ukwen, National President of the KYN while briefing journalists in Jalingo on the situation in Takum on Saturday said that the planned demolition of the age-long Mosque and palace of Ukwe Takum was aimed at triggering a fresh crisis in the area.
Markus Apwende, who stood in for the president of KYN in Jalingo, stated that “The enemies of peace were at work with the sole intention to provoking the Kuteb tribe.”
He added, “I want to inform you that the Engineer, a Whiteman, of SCC Construction Nig. Ltd handling the construction of T Y Danjuma University in Takum and some Chamba militia were seen on Thursday October 10 and 11 which was Friday, marking and pegging the Palace and the Takum Central Mosque for demolition.
“This palace together with the mosque which were built since 1912 housed graves of many of our Ukwe Takum who ruled for centuries and died while on throne and were buried in the palace.”
According to him, “the palace also housed other traditional artifacts that were historical to Kuteb tradition and customs as well as other items which should not be tempered with.”
He notes that Takum had witnessed several crises and queried, “why should there be another round of crisis in the area?”
He further argued that the matter of the Takum chieftaincy was before the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, adding that the Kuteb as respecters of the rule of law would not do anything prejudicial capable of interfering with the decision of the court.
He, accordingly urged Governor Kefas and security agencies to intervene in the interest of peace in the area.
According to him, “any attempt to demolish the palace and the Mosque will be tantamount to direct insult and bastardisation of Kuteb’s cherished customs and tradition, especially that the palace housed the graves of our past traditional rulers.
“Nobody whatsoever will sit and watch the graves of his ancestors being excavated and be happy about it,” he stressed.
When contacted, the governor’s Special Assistant on Communication and Digital Media, Emmanuel Bello did not deny the allegation but said that the governor would respond at an appropriate time. (SaharaReporters)
