His royal Highness, Agabaidu Abraham Ajene Okpabi, the Ochi Idoma 11 was born 1924 in Ito District of present day Obi local Government Area of Benue state. His Royal Highness Ajene Okpabi attended Idoma Metropolitan primary school Otukpo now Methodist Central Primary School Otukpo between 1932 and 1940 where his leadership qualities were first noticed and he was made head boy in his final year in primary school.
After leaving primary school, His Royal Highness worked as a health worker until 1952 when at the age of 28, he was appointed the Okwubi (District head) of Ito. With this appointment, he also become the president of Idoma Native Authority Area Court in Ito District. His reign as Okwubi was popular with Idoma Native Authority Administration as this period was renowned for growth in tax collection, commerce, and primary education within Ito District. As a reward for his sterling leadership as Okwubi, in 1954 the Idoma Native Authority made it possible for Ajene Okpabi to attend administrative courses and then appointed him to their Executive Council where at different times he serves as councillor in charge of judiciary, prisons, finance and police.
And in1956, Ajene Okpabi’s political profile was further elevated when he was elected into the first Northern Nigeria house of Assembly, which was set up to prepare Northern Nigeria politically for the impending independence of Nigeria from Britain.
In 1960, Ajene Okpabi’s life was changed forever. Following the death of his father-in-law, the Ochi Idoma 1 HRH Ogiri Oko, 22 district heads within Idoma Native Authority met and chose Ajene Okpabi as Ochi Idoma 11 and was officially given a staff of office by Queen Elizabeth 11.
He reigns for 35 years. During this time, he was awarded two National award; the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Commander of the Order of Niger (CON), His mediatory qualities was called upon during the Nigerian civil war in the late 1960s when he was made a member of the Consultative Assembly of leaders of thought, a group that worked towards resolving the crisis between Nigeria and Biafra. In 1970, the office of the Ochi Idoma was upgraded to a first-class chief by the then Benue-Plateau State Government. This upgrade was seen by most observers as a clear indication of the prestige brought to the Ochi Idoma stool by Ajene Okpabi.
In 1994 just as in 1960s, Ajene Okpabi was one of the 13 eminent people from Benue State selected to be member of the National Constitutional Conference which was constituted by then Military Government to help resolve the political impasse created by the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election. While at the National Constitutional Conference, he continued to champion the cause of Idoma people by leading the agitation for the creation of Apa State.
Ajene Okpabi throughout his reign was a father figure to all Idoma people, providing much needed guidance in matter of Idoma tradition.
His Royal Highness Agabaidu Ajene Okpabi, the Ochi Idoma 11 died in 1995.
Credit: Ijachi Odeh 2014
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