YORRO: Taraba Lawmaker, Mumuye Monarch Trade Allegations Over Cash-for-Chieftaincy Claims, Boundary Dispute.

 

By Political Correspondent

The face-off between the Member representing Yorro State Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Kannoh Kassong, and the Paramount Ruler of the Mumuye Chiefdom, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Adamu Mazang II, has deepened, with the lawmaker denying allegations of misconduct and countering with fresh claims against the traditional institution.

In a statement issued by his media team, Hon. Kassong dismissed allegations made by the Mumuye Chiefdom as "false, malicious and baseless," insisting they were aimed at damaging his reputation and misleading the people of Yorro Local Government Area.

The lawmaker's response followed accusations by the monarch that he and an associate, Bilyaminu, popularly known as "Billy Smart," were allegedly collecting money from residents under the guise of creating new districts, villages and facilitating appointments of traditional rulers.

However, Kassong's media team maintained that the allegations against him were unfounded, arguing instead that his office had received numerous complaints from members of the public over alleged activities within the Mumuye Chiefdom Palace.

According to the statement, residents alleged that money was collected from district heads and community members with assurances that they would be elevated to Third Class Chiefs through directives purportedly issued by Governor Agbu Kefas.

The statement claimed that no official directive had been issued by the governor and that no legislation establishing new Third Class Chiefdoms had been enacted or gazetted.

Among those reportedly mentioned in the complaints were Mr. Anthony Anjo Mashi, who allegedly paid ₦2 million and provided two cows in connection with his appointment as District Head of Unkwa; Alhaji Abubakar Adamu of Gongon Kogi, Mr. Gambia Vossi, JP, of Bariki, and Mr. Isa Barkindo Lanko of Nyaja, all of whom were alleged to have made payments linked to promised elevations in traditional status.

The lawmaker's team also alleged that district and village heads within the chiefdom were not receiving their salaries regularly despite monthly government releases, claiming they were allegedly paid once every three months.

Describing the allegations as weighty, Kassong called on relevant government authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation rather than resort to what he termed personal attacks.

He reaffirmed his commitment to representing the interests of his constituents and pledged to continue speaking on issues affecting their welfare.

The rebuttal came days after the Mumuye monarch publicly accused the legislator of exploiting residents through alleged illegal collections and interfering in established traditional boundaries.

In a statement issued from the Mumuye Chiefdom Palace in Pantisawa through his Media Aide, Malam Idris Abdulrahaman, the traditional ruler alleged that Hon. Kassong and his associate had been collecting money from residents under the pretext of creating new districts, villages and appointing traditional rulers.

The monarch further accused the lawmaker of attempting to alter traditional boundaries by allegedly transferring Gongon Maliki District to the Lankaviri Chiefdom, a move he said had heightened tensions in the affected Dankum and Donkin communities of Kassa 'B' Ward in Yorro Local Government Area.

Warning that such actions could threaten peace and stability in the area, the royal father urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid acts capable of causing conflict.

He also reaffirmed his support for Governor Agbu Kefas' peace-building efforts and cautioned that failure to address the issues raised could result in a breakdown of law and order.

The conflicting claims by both parties have heightened political and traditional tensions in Yorro Local Government Area, with neither side providing publicly verified evidence to substantiate the allegations. As of the time of filing this report, the Taraba State Government had not issued an official statement on the matter, while there has been no confirmation that any formal investigation has commenced.