THE Taraba State government has appointed Linus D. Ibrahim to act in place of the late Emir, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Sambo, who died during the recent stampede in Saudi-Arabia, which led to the death of over 700 pilgrims in the Moslem Holy Land.

A statement made available to journalists yesterday by the state government said the appointment serves as need for the public to dispel the rumours making the rounds that the vacant stool is presently igniting crisis in the state.

Signed by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bello Yero, the governor directed that Ibrahim, who is the Wazirin Zing”, should act” pending when a new monarch is appointed.

The statement read: “The Executive Governor of Taraba State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, has directed that the Wazirin Zing, Linus D. Ibrahim, should act in the office of the Kpanti Zing in line with the tradition guiding the traditional stool of Zing chiefdom.”

While all efforts, according to the statement are being put in place to ensure the emergence of a new monarch, the governor admonished persons charged with the responsibilities of ensuring the emergence of a new king to tread with caution.

“While the state government is putting in place machinery for the election of the new Kpanti Sing, all parties vested with the processes that will lead to the emergence of the new monarch are by this directive advised to be calm and sure that the chiefdom remains peaceful.”

The governor, through the Permanent Secretary, therefore, enjoined the people to go about their daily activities, as relevant measures to halt outbreak of crisis have been provided.

It was earlier rumoured that masquerades from the Emirate have taken over the palace following an ongoing plan to impose a monarch on the people.

The state government however dispelled the rumour, stating that laid down rules would be followed to ensure the emergence of a monarch that would be generally accepted by the people.