The Kutep Yatso of Nigeria (KYN), a social cultural group for the Kuteb people of Taraba State, has rejected the planned rotation of the stool of Ukwe Takum, the paramount traditional stool of the ethnic group.
Chief Emmanuel Ukwen, Chairman of the KYN, during a public hearing at the Taraba State House of Assembly, Wednesday, rejected the rotation of the first-class traditional stool and the creation of three chiefdoms in Takum organised by the assembly.
Ukwen noted that the seat of Ukwe was ancestral inheritance and so could not be shared with non-Kuteb people as being contemplated by the state government.
He said two ruling houses of Akente and Likam had maintained the succession to the throne dating back to 1912.
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He recalled that the position of Ukwen Takum existed since 1510 and was upgraded by the colonial administration in 1914.
He further stated that the Kutep had nurtured the seat from village head, third class up to first class without any involvement of any other ethnic group in the state.
He said the planned rotation of the seat was detrimental to the Kutep native law and customs.
Similarly, Tiv, Chamba, Kpanzu and Jibu ethnicities also made their presentations at the public hearing.
Daily Trust recalls that the succession tussle for the stool of Ukwe started in 1996 following the death of the former Ukwe Takum, Alhaji Ali.