The need for peaceful coexistence in Taraba North

Taraba North Senatorial/Geographical Zone is the largest of  the three zones in Taraba State largely because the  six LGAs (Ardo-Kola, Jalingo, Karim-Lamido, Lau, Yorro and Zing) it is made up of is the highest compared to the other two zones that have five each. It also boasts of two first class traditional rulers (Emir of […]

Taraba North Senatorial/Geographical Zone is the largest of  the three zones in Taraba State largely because the  six LGAs (Ardo-Kola, Jalingo, Karim-Lamido, Lau, Yorro and Zing) it is made up of is the highest compared to the other two zones that have five each. It also boasts of two first class traditional rulers (Emir of Muri and Kpanti Zing), a significant number of second class and third class chiefs, hundreds of district heads and thousands of village heads.

 The major ethnic groups in Taraba North are the Mumuye, Fulani, Nyandang, Wurkum, Kona, Jenjo, Hausa, Bandawa, Kunini and Karinjo. They have been living peacefully alongside other ethnic minorities for over a century leading to socio-cultural integration through inter-ethnic marriages and alliances.

Islam and Christianity are the major religions practiced by the vast majority of the people of Taraba North. Pockets of followers of traditional/indigenous religion are also found mostly in rural areas. For over a century, this religious heterogeneity did not, in anyway, alter the course of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Taraba North as Muslims, Christians and even atheists recognized, respected and appreciated their differences as a means of identification only and not that of antagonism.

Based on this age-long harmonious coexistence among the various ethnic and religious groups in the zone, coupled with its sheer landmass, massive population, economic strength and political sophistication, Taraba North emerged as the most politically advantageous zone among the three zones in the state.

This reflected in the impressive manner Taraba North  produced the first executive governors of both the defunct Gongola State in 1979 and Taraba State in 1991,  two deputy governors who subsequently became acting governors and three speakers of the House of Assembly (one of which was the first in the state).

In recent years though, the enviable status of Taraba North as the political hotbed or power house of Taraba State is increasingly being threatened partly due to the unfortunate and regrettable outbreak of violent inter-ethnic/communal conflicts in certain parts of the zone.

These apparently incomprehensible, unfounded, unjustifiable and condemnable clashes between communities that hitherto been living peacefully for ages are quite worrisome and should be source of concern to all people of Taraba North, particularly the political class because of their obvious consequences and the need to find answers to the following questions;

i. Why have these “mysterious” violent conflicts been occurring at an alarming rate in the last two years or there about?

ii. Why are these violent conflicts becoming more vicious at this point in time when we are on the eve of an election year (2019 general elections)?

 iii. Are these violent conflicts having something to do with the 2019 general elections?

iv. Are these violent conflicts calculated political plans by some vested interests within and outside the zone which are bent on weakening its political advantages over other zones?

 v. Are these violent conflicts primarily aimed at reducing the voting strength or capacity of the zone ahead of the 2019 general elections through the reduction of its voting-age population?

vi. Who are those behind conflicts?

vii. What can be done to prevent future occurrence?

viii. What can be done to ensure that the zone regain any marginal loss it might have suffered due to these conflicts before the 2019 general elections?

Finding the right answers to these compelling questions are quite necessary.Zongre wrote from Jalingo