The Chamba ethnic group in Taraba on Friday petitioned governor Darius Ishaku, alleging political marginalisation in the State.
In a petition signed by Muhammad Danburam, Chairman Donga Chamba Progressive Association and Joel Dinshiya of Takum Chamba Youth Forum, the group alleged that their people were not being carried along in the distribution of political appointments.
According to the petition, the Chamba people who have voted massively for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999 have been neglected in the political patronage of the current administration.
According to the petition, statistics of political positions in the southern part of the State where the bulk of the Chamba people lived showed that Jukun holds 15 positions, Kuteb 7, Chamba one, while Tiv and Hausa had nothing.
“Your Excellency, a careful study of the current political distribution of offices in the southern zone shows that the Chamba are not being carried along.
“We are concerned that while other tribes in the area have more than one representative in the Executive Council of the State, the Chamba people have none.
“We, therefore, appeal to Your Excellency to consider the inclusion of the Chamba people in the Executive Council and other subsequent appointments,” they said.
Governor Ishaku is of the Jukun extraction, while his deputy if Fulani. The Speaker of the House of Assembly is from Kunini.
