When Taraba people declared God’s goodness in their land

Penultimate Saturday at the Rimi Primary School pavilion, Takum, elated choir groups sang melodiously and shouted to high heavens in praise of the good work God has done in their land, notably, the restoration of peace. The Takum area had been war ridden. Communal fighting between Kuteb and Jukun, Kuteb and Tiv; and Jukun and […]

Penultimate Saturday at the Rimi Primary School pavilion, Takum, elated choir groups sang melodiously and shouted to high heavens in praise of the good work God has done in their land, notably, the restoration of peace. The Takum area had been war ridden. Communal fighting between Kuteb and Jukun, Kuteb and Tiv; and Jukun and Tiv had often claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed properties, especially farm crops worth millions of naira. For the past four to five years, there have been relative peace and the people consider it expedient to organize the first Kuteb Nation Worldwide Thanksgiving service.

In his welcome address, the President of Reformed Christian Church of Nigeria (RCCN), Rev. Risae Yakubu Shamaki, revealed that the idea of the thanksgiving was first muted by the traditional rulers of the area before Kuteb Yatso of Nigeria (KYN) and the church embraced it. He however said some Kutebs were wondering what the Kuteb people were thanking God for, especially when they have been without their traditional chief, Ukwe Takum, for the past 15 years.

“In fact some people threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration against the thanksgiving service. But every crown must definitely be preceded by crosses. To wait till all problems are solved before rendering thanks to God is to have decided never to thank Him; because there is not time in history that we will be void of problems,” he said.

He added that nobody knew that Ukwe Ali Ibrahim would die on 22nd October, 1996, and no one knows who, when and how the next Ukwe will be enthroned. “God is the initiator and implementer of all events in the human race.”

Rev. Shamaki explained, “to fully explain God’s favour is an impossible thing to do but, as the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthian 9:15, ‘we are thanking God for his indescribable gift’,” adding that thankfulness is not just a thing of the heart which should be done quietly between one and his God.

He charged Takum natives holding political offices, traditional stools and religious offices to build bridges of love and peace in Takum and alleviate the suffering of the people, especially the unemployed youth.

The reverend gentleman concluded his address by quoting the apostle Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians 5:17-18: “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks to God for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

The guest speaker at occasion, Rev. Caleb Ahima, quoting Psalm 105:1 said giving thanks to God is a covenantal culture and urged all sons and daughters of Takum to as part of their thanksgiving develop the area.

Governor Danbaba Suntai congratulated the Kuteb nation for setting the pace in the state, saying, “until we stand up in thanksgiving to God, we are yet to begin the journey of this life. This thing you have begun will make a difference in the nation, the state, Kuteb land and Takum. I have absolute belief in what you are doing.”