On Wednesday, the Taraba State Bureau for Local Government, Traditions, and Chieftaincy Affairs warned the state against the unapproved granting of traditional titles.
During a press conference in Jalingo, the Bureau’s Permanent Secretary, Engineer Godfrey Dame Andrew, revealed that some people have been traveling illegally through local government areas, giving their associates traditional chieftaincy titles, and making false claims that the Bureau supports them. Andrew called the activities “false and mischievous,” stressing that the Bureau has not approved any of them and is still fully committed to upholding the laws governing traditional leadership in the state.
To be clear, “Chief” and “Emir” are the only traditional titles that Taraba State law recognizes,” he said.
Andrew went on to say that no tribal or ethnic councils are recognized by the state. Instead, only the Traditional Council and the Emirate Council—both of which are headed by graded Chiefs and Emirs chosen through formal hereditary procedures—are part of the officially recognized structure.
He pointed out that the traditional leadership structure is well-defined, with the Chiefdom or Emirate at the top and District Heads, Village Heads, and Ward Heads in order of precedence. He cautioned that no person or organization has the authority to establish or take on leadership positions outside of this framework.
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