Kuteb Ethnic Group Boycotts Kingmakers Meeting in Taraba State

The Kuteb ethnic group in the Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State has disclosed reasons for their boycott of a recent kingmakers meeting organized by the Bureau for Traditions, Chieftaincy, and Local Government Affairs.

The group, known for their rich cultural heritage, opted to abstain from the meeting convened by the bureau in Jalingo, the state capital.

Speaking to journalists in Jalingo on Wednesday, the Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria expressed strong opposition to the meeting, labeling it as unacceptable.

Led by their President, Emmanuel Ukwen, the group vehemently opposed the bureau’s decision to convene the gathering, citing its contradiction to their customs and traditions.

“We unanimously boycotted the meeting because it is against our culture and tradition to exchange the Ukwe Takum stool for an alien chief of Takum stool created by Governor Agbu Kafes with a strange rotation policy,” they stated.

The group demanded transparency from the governor regarding the rationale behind the decision, questioning why the Ukwe Takum stool should be undermined due to political dynamics.

Contrary to claims suggesting their non-participation in the Jalingo selection process was an act of defiance, the group clarified that it was a principled stand against what they perceive as unjust rotational chieftaincy practices in Takum.

Accusing the government of perpetrating injustice against its own people, the Kuteb expressed concerns over the erosion of their cultural and traditional heritage within their own territory.

The boycott, they emphasized, serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing tension between governance structures and indigenous communities striving to preserve their identity and autonomy against perceived encroachments.