The Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), a cultural umbrella body of Kuteb Worldwide, has alleged that Taraba state government is planning to demolish the Ukwe Palace and Central mosque in the community.
At a press conference in Jalingo, the state capital, President of the Kuteb Association, Mr. Emmanuel Ukwen, said the people were opposed to the planned demolition of Takum Central Mosque and Ukwe Takum’s palace.
He said there is tension in the town because of the planned demolition, adding that it could trigger a fresh crisis.
Mr Ukwen who was represented by Mr Markus Apwende, President KYN, during the press conference, cried out that the enemies of peace were at work with the sole intention to provoke the Kuteb tribe.
He alleged that a white man handling a project was seen on Friday along with heavy security and some armed militia marking and pegging the Palace and the Takum Central Mosque for demolition.
“This palace together with the mosque which were built since 1912 and it housed graves of many of our Ukwe Takum who ruled Takum for centuries and died while on throne and were buried in the palace.
“This palace also houses other traditional artefact that were historical to Kuteb tradition and customs as well as other items which should not be tempered with.” Mr.Ukwen said
The president also recalled that Takum had witnessed a lot of crisis and tension, adding that Kuteb community would not want another round of crisis.
He said 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 jeopadising the outcome of the suit.
The president called on the Taraba government as well as security agencies to intervene on that planned demolishing of the Ukwe palace and the Central Mosque in order to ensure that nothing untowards happens to Takum Central Mosque and the Ukwe palace.
He stated further that “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.”
He said nobody would sit and watch the graves of his ancestors being excavated and feel happy about it..
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