By TERNA CHIKPA, Jalingo

Four major tribes in Taraba, Fulani, Mumuye, Kuteb and Tiv have given governor Darius Ishaku 30 days ultimatum to address the injustices meted on them by some actors in the state.

At a world press conference, Friday in Jalingo, chairman of the groups, Mr Obed Ameh who was flanked by some tribal leaders alleged that Mumuye, Fulani, Kuteb and Tiv ethnic groups were made to suffer unjustly in Taraba state.

The groups alleged that since 1996 when the stool of Ukwe Takum (a Kuteb chief) became vacant due to the demise of late Ukwe Ali Ibrahim Zorto, there have been attempts to deny the Kuteb people access to the stool.

“This later culminated into a series of crises in that area that consumed several lives and properties worth billions of naira.

“We want to draw the attention of the world to an alleged devilish plan to appoint three third class chiefs in Takum town which has never happened anywhere in the world. The gazette of this plot is being developed.

“We wish to call on the state government as a matter of urgency to fill in the vacant stool of Ukwe from Likam ruling house within 30 days so as to avert a further crisis in Takum.”

The group also said the state government should create Chiefdoms for the Mumuye in Jalingo, Lau and Ardo-Kola local government areas in the interest of justice.

They alleged that Kwararafa, Chanchanji, Chonku, Kona, Bakula, Bakin-Dutse chiefdoms were wrongly created and major ethnic groups were denied their cultural and traditional rights of rulership, instead minorities were made to rule over the majorities in the areas, urging the governor to correct the injustice.

On the vacant stool of Lamdo Bakundi in Bali local government, the group called on the government to install a new chief from the decease lineage without further delay, just as was done in Donga and other places in the state for peace and justice.

While lamenting the Jukun/Tiv crisis in the state, the groups said the over one-year crisis that has killed many and destroyed properties worth millions of naira would have been averted if justice was on a play.

“We wish to call on the warring factions to sheath their sword and the government should urgently set machinery in motion to allow both parties who were displaced to go back to their homes to continue with their normal businesses unconditionally.

“We also urge the state government to take proactive measures to ensure that the Hausa/Fulani who were displaced in the Jukun/Hausa-Fulani crisis of 2014 in Wukari is allowed to go back to their land unconditionally and their property is given back to them so as to allow peace reign in Wukari local government.”

Reacting to the allegations, Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Barr. Danjuma Adamu said the people have their civil right to express their feelings in a violent free manner and that government will look into their grievances if presented through the right channels.

He explained that some of the issues pre-date the administration and the Governor was following due process in addressing them in the interest of peace.

Adamu said the people were free to return to their places and nobody was preventing the Hausa-Fulani in particular as presented by the group from returning to Wukari local government.

“Due process was followed in the creation of the chiefdoms and people applied. So, if some people feel aggrieved they should follow the right channel, without resorting to violence.

“On the Tiv/Jukun crisis, the Taraba government is doing everything possible to resolve the issues and one of the steps is the judicial Commission of inquiry which was inaugurated last week.” The commissioner explained. (Nigerian Tribune)

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