The Taraba State Bureau for Local Government, Traditions and Chieftaincy Affairs has warned against the unauthorized conferment of traditional titles across the state. This warning follows the discovery of individuals illegally bestowing chieftaincy titles on their associates while falsely claiming the Bureau’s endorsement.
Engineer Godfrey Dame Andrew, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, described these actions as “false and mischievous” and stressed that they have not been authorized by the Bureau. He reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to enforcing the laws that govern traditional leadership in Taraba State and clarified that, by law, the only recognized traditional titles are “Chief” and “Emir”.
The state’s traditional leadership hierarchy is clearly defined: the Chiefdom or Emirate sits at the top, followed by District Heads, Village Heads, and Ward Heads. Andrew warned that no individual or group may create or assume leadership roles outside this structure, as doing so would violate the law and threaten the peace and order of communities. The creation of parallel traditional authorities is not recognized by the state, and offenders will be prosecuted.
Residents are urged to respect the existing traditional institutions in their areas and to avoid actions that could incite division or conflict. Andrew called for unity and mutual respect among all ethnic groups in Taraba, urging citizens to support the state’s legal traditional framework. By reinforcing the recognized institutions, the Bureau aims to maintain peace, order, and stability, promote social cohesion, and strengthen governance across the state.
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