Idoma Royal Banquet: Och’Idoma’s throne is eternal, not relocated to Abuja – Chief Paul Edeh

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the forthcoming Idoma Royal Banquet, Chief (Dr) Paul Edeh, has dismissed claims that hosting the banquet in Abuja signifies a relocation of the Och’Idoma’s throne from Idoma land.

In a rejoinder issued on Monday, Chief Edeh stressed that the stool of the Och’Idoma is an eternal institution and cannot be tied to geography, adding that the choice of Abuja was a strategic decision to engage Idoma elites, professionals, and diaspora members.

“The throne of the Idoma Nation resides eternally in the spirit of its people, wherever they may be. Abuja is only a hub where many of our people live and contribute to national life. To convene there is to extend the throne’s embrace, not relocate it,” he said.

According to him, the banquet, scheduled for October 17, 2025, is a product of resolutions reached at the Idoma Peace and Unity Symposium held earlier in Otukpo.

He explained that the event would consolidate outcomes of the symposium under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Idoma Nation: One Kingdom, One Destiny” and focus on unity, security, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation.

Chief Edeh added that public discourse and even criticism of the revered stool were not new, noting that the Idoma people must now channel energy toward peace, cooperation, and collective progress under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, CON.

The statement reads in full below:

A Statesman’s Response: On the Idoma Royal Banquet and Our Call for Unity

A Rejoinder by Chief (Dr) Paul Edeh, Oojela K’Idoma, Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the Idoma Royal Banquet 2025

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly… who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt

In every generation, the path to progress is paved with both action and dialogue. It is in this spirit of constructive engagement that we wish to offer clarity on the upcoming Idoma Royal Banquet, an initiative born not from an individual’s will, but from a collective vision for our great nation. Recent commentary has raised questions about this event, and it is our duty, as servants of the Idoma people under the leadership of His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, CON, to provide context and reaffirm our shared purpose.

The Genesis of a Collective Vision

It is important to understand that the forthcoming Royal Banquet, scheduled for Friday, 17th October 2025, in Abuja, was a collective decision reached during the Idoma Peace and Unity Symposium held earlier this year in Otukpo.

That symposium was a historic convergence of our traditional rulers, elders, scholars, public servants, security chiefs, and distinguished Idoma sons and daughters from every walk of life. Following robust deliberations, one of the key resolutions was the need for a Royal Banquet in Abuja. The purpose was clear: to strategically engage with Idoma elites, professionals, and our diaspora community, thereby renewing our collective commitment to the peace, unity, and development of our homeland.

As a listening king, His Royal Majesty graciously accepted this recommendation. The implementation of this noble idea led to the formation of the Central Planning Committee, which I am honored to chair, under the direct supervision of the President-General of Ochetoha K’Idoma, Professor Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, a respected historian and patriot.

Purpose, Not Pageantry

The Royal Banquet is not a mere social gathering; it is a strategic platform to consolidate the outcomes of the Otukpo symposium and translate them into tangible action. Under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Idoma Nation: One Kingdom, One Destiny,” the banquet will focus on critical pathways for progress in unity, security, youth empowerment, economic opportunity, and cultural preservation.

The choice of Abuja is not an abandonment of our ancestral roots but a practical and inclusive decision. Abuja is a significant hub for countless Idoma families, professionals, and patriots who champion our identity on the national stage. To convene there is to acknowledge that the Idoma story has expanded beyond our traditional borders. It is an act of extending the throne’s embrace, not relocating it. The throne of the Idoma Nation resides eternally in the spirit of its people, wherever they may be. Indeed, just as the King or Queen of England meet their subjects beyond their shores, it is neither strange nor new for our King to engage his children in a city so central to their lives and livelihoods.

On Kingship and Our Sacred Traditions

A concern was raised suggesting that kingship has departed from our land, citing a name like “Otseme” (“there is no more kingship”). This perspective, while perhaps born of personal sentiment, overlooks a fundamental tenet of our culture: an Oche does not “die”. The stool of the Och’Idoma is an eternal institution, and the spirit of kingship is perpetual. The physical occupant of the stool is a custodian, but the institution itself is timeless. Therefore, the very idea that “there is no more kingship” is a misnomer that runs contrary to the core of Idoma tradition.

His Royal Majesty’s reign continues to be one of reaching out and advancing unity. While his schedule is demanding, his commitment to connecting with all Local Government Councils of his realm remains a priority. This banquet in Abuja is simply one of many avenues through which he seeks to unify the Idoma people.

A Heritage of Dialogue and A Call to Unity

Public discourse and even criticism regarding the revered stool of the Och’Idoma are not new phenomena. Indeed, they are part of a long tradition of engagement by the Idoma’s educated elites, dating back to the very inauguration of the stool in 1948. We view these conversations, including the recent commentary, not as attacks, but as part of our living heritage. Just as monarchies worldwide face scrutiny, so too does ours, and we embrace this as a sign of a vibrant and engaged populace.

What we need now is cooperation, not condemnation. The Idoma Nation is too great to be diminished by internal discord. This is a time to rise above bitterness and ego, to channel our collective energy into building a stronger, prouder, and more prosperous future. His Royal Majesty is leading with vision and humility. It is our collective duty to support him in strengthening the walls of our great nation.

Let us therefore join hands, silence discord, and march forward as one people under one destiny. When Idoma stands united, no force can divide us.