Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The National President of Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), a cultural umbrella body of Kuteb world wide, Comrade Emmanuel Ukwen, on Saturday, said it has opposed the planned demolition of Takum Central Mosque and the Ukwe Takum’s palace in Takum local government area of Taraba.
Ukwen stated this while briefing Journalists in Jalingo on the situation in Takum town on Saturday.
Our Correspondent reports that tension was high 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.
“The planned demolition of the aged Long Mosque and palace of Ukwe Takum was aimed at triggering a fresh crisis in the local government.
Represented by Mr Markus Apwende, President KYN in Jalingo, Ukwen cried out that the enemies of peace were at work with the sole intention to provoke the Kuteb tribe.
” I want to inform you that the Engineer, a Whitman, of SCC Construction Nig. Ltd handling the construction of T Y Danjuma University in Takum and some Chamba militia were seen on Thursday Oct. 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.
He said that 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.
The president recalled that Takum had witnessed a lot of crisis and tension, nothing why the Kuteb community would not want another round of crisis in the area.
He also recalled that the matter as related to Takum chieftaincy was already at the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, adding that the Kuteb as respecters of the rule of law would not do anything prejudicial capable of geopadising the out come of the suit.
The president called on the Taraba State Government as well as Security Agencies to intervane and ensure that nothing happened to Takum Central Mosque and the Ukwe palace.
“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.
“No body whatsoever will sit and watch the graves of his ancestors being excavated and be happy about it,” he said.