The Wukari Traditional Council has publicly clarified that Governor Agbu Kefas’s recent statement “I am a real Jukun” was not intended to claim superiority but to reaffirm his commitment to the ethical values of his ethnic group, countering what it described as misleading social media interpretations that risk dividing the Jukun people in Taraba State.
The Council’s intervention follows a solidarity visit by the Wukari community to Governor Kefas on February 5, 2026, at the TY Danjuma House in Jalingo. The delegation, led by His Majesty Ishaku Adda Ali, the Aku-Uka of Wukari, occurred after the governor pledged to uphold fairness and inclusive governance. The Council stated that certain individuals subsequently “deliberately distorted” the governor’s remark, framing it as an exclusivist claim.
In a statement signed by Jolly Agbu Masa-Ibi, Special Adviser to the Aku-Uka on media, the Palace explained that the comment was made specifically to his kinsmen at a meeting convened by the Palace. It was meant to underscore adherence to traditional Jukun virtues such as honesty, integrity, and loyalty. The Council likened the affirmation to a “declaration of personal faith,” noting that identifying with communal values does not imply ranking oneself above others.
The Council condemned the selective interpretations as unfounded and allegedly motivated by a desire to sow discord for personal or political gain. It warned that taking statements out of context can foster misunderstanding and strain relationships within the community. The Palace urged the public to resist what it termed a “smear campaign” and not allow external actors to exploit the situation.
Reiterating its commitment to unity, the Wukari Traditional Council called on residents of Taraba State to disregard the divisive narratives and continue supporting the state administration for the collective good. The clarification highlights the sensitive role of ethnic identity in Nigeria’s political discourse and the traditional institutions’ efforts to mediate such narratives to maintain communal harmony.
The episode underscores the intersection of governance, ethnicity, and traditional authority in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where the Jukun are a major group in Taraba State. It also illustrates how localized statements can be amplified on social media, necessitating official recontextualization to prevent fragmentation. The Council’s statement serves as a formal rebuke to forces it believes seek to politicize cultural identity.
