I think we need to set matters straight. In doing that we need to ask why we occupied the seat of Och’ Idoma for over 35 years (Dr. Abraham Ajene Okpabi). That we have some differences in dialect does not rule out the possibility of running a single chiefdom. Please, help check out the history of the kingdom, for want of space and time.
Coming to the present, there’s need to look at the provisions of the law establishing the “Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council”, 2016:
Section 3(1) of the law states: “There is hereby established in the State the Office of the Tor Tiv in the Tiv Area Traditional Council and the Office of the Och’Idoma in the Idoma Area Traditional Council as Paramount Rulers”.
Section 5(1) provides that: “There is hereby established in the State, two Area Traditional Councils as follows: The Idoma Area Traditional Council comprising:
(a) Ado Local Government Area
(b) Agatu Local Government Area
(c) Apa Local Government Area
(d) Obi Local Government Area
(e) Ogbadibo Local Government Area
(f) Ohimini Local Government Area
(g) Oju Local Government Area
(h) Okpokwu Local Government Area
(I) Otukpo Local Government Area
Section 5 (2) The Tiv Area Traditional Council comprising:
(a) Buruku Local Government Area
…………
(n) Vandeikya Local Government Area.
Section 8(1): There is hereby established in the State Ten Intermediate Area Traditional Councils as follows:
(a)…………
(b)………..
………………
(g) Igede Intermediate Area Traditional Council comprising:
(i) Oju Local Government Area
(ii) Obi Local Government Area
(h) Agatu/Apa Intermediate Area Traditional Council comprising:
(i) Agatu Local Government Area
(ii) Apa Local Government Area
(I) doma Enone Intermediate Area Traditional Council comprising:
Okpokwu Local Government Area
(ii) Ogbadibo Local Government Area
(iii) Ado Local Government Area
(j) Otukpo/Ohimini Intermediate Area Traditional Council comprising:
(i) Otukpo Local Government Area
(ii) Ohimini Local Government Area.
The Four Intermediate Area Traditional Councils named above (g) to (j) make up the Idoma Area Traditional Council.
Section 17(1): “The Och’Idoma shall be chosen rotationally by a Selection Committee from among the components as set out in Schedule 4 of this Law”.
The Schedule 4 of the Law lists the components as follows:
1. Agatu and Apa
2. Otukpo and Ohimini
3. Idoma Enoma, and
4. Igede.
You may wish to look at the Emirate system in the North, the Obas in the West, the Obi in the East; their subjects are not necessarily strictly of a descent.
We are operating under the law of the State that seeks to protect all stakeholders. Are we still weighing ourselves down with the sentiments of “we are not Idoma”? Or we feel so inferior to others that we can’t go for our rights?
Please, let’s put on our warmers and take it when it gets to us by rotation as provided in the Law.
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