Wurukun Youth Association have condemned the Taraba State Government under Governor Dairus Ishaku for not participating in the 2015 annual Phebe Festival of the Wurukun Nation.
The festival held at the Bachama, Karim Lamido Local Government area of the state Last Saturday and had no official representation from the state government despite been official invited.
The youths in a statement signed by its leader, Jibiril Ahmed said It is the first time a government in Taraba State would be neglecting the Phebe festival, saying the Wurukun nation deserved to be accorded its respect and rights from the government.
Ahmed said government’s absence at the aged-long festival shows ingenuity on Governor Ishaku’s part to foster unity and oneness of Taraba state.
According to the youths, “this is the first time Taraba State Government is not involved in Phebe festival since 1976. Rev Jolly Nyame and Danbaba Suntai, during their tenures attended and participated in the festival.”
The youths demanded explanations why no government official or Governor Dairus attended the Phebe festival which is in the cultural calendar of the state.
“The Wurukun nation transcend political and religious divides, we have christians and muslims, our tribe has contributed tremendously to the growth of Taraba State,” the group said.
They affirmed that the State government not being represented in the occasion signified the level of intolerance to culture and traditions of wurukum nation despite the contribution of the people to the development of Taraba State.
“The Wurukum nation have produced Senators, top Federal and State civil servants, Acting Governors, Commissioners and beautiful entrepreneurs in this state, yet Ishaku led government didn’t show any appreciation to the cultural heritage of these people.
“We call on the state government to retrace its steps; Taraba state as a multi ethnic society must give quality attention to all major tribal events to promote unity in the state,” Ahmed said
Phebe is a yearly gathering of Wurukun from all over the world to display their cultural heritage.
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