Selection of new Och’Idoma: The most herculean task faced by Idoma Nation

One of the hardest tests the Idoma kingdom had faced or will be facing in this 21st century is the selection of the new Paramount Ruler of the land, the Och’Idoma to replace the former Och’Idoma, Chief Elias Ikoyi Obekpa who has gone on hunting expedition and will no longer return home.

According to the gazetted Traditional Law of Benue state, any Royal Bloc that had produced the Och’Idoma in the past is automatically ruled out. There are four Royal Blocs in Idoma land namely; the Oju/Obi Royal Bloc, the Apa/Agatu Royal Bloc, the Otukpo/Ohimini Royal Bloc and the Enone Royal Bloc consisting of Ado, Ogbadibo and Okpokwu LGA. Apart from Apa/Agatu, all the other Blocs had produced Och’Idomas in the past namely; HRM Chief Ogiri Okoh from Otukpo/Ohimini Bloc, HRM Chief Abraham Ajene Okpabi from Oju/Obi, HRM Chief Edwin Ogbu from Enone but didn’t last long and had to be replaced by another Enone extract who just went on hunting exercise, Chief Elias Ikoyi Obekpa.

After series of discussions today at the famous Double K Resorts in Otukpo by critical stakeholders and traditional rulers in Idoma land, it was agreed that the Apa/Agatu should produce the next Och’Idoma as the zoning is clearly in favour of the zone.

Even though, the zoning outrightly favours Apa/Agatu Royal Bloc, there is still a big stumbling block. The micro-zoning automatically goes to Agatu because of the First Class seat for the Bloc which was ceded to Apa and is currently being occupied by HRH. Chief Baba Odangala, the Agangwu’K’Apa/Agatu.

THE OPTIONS

Most Idoma sons and daughters are of the opinion that the best person who the cap fits is a an erudite Professor of History from the Benue State University, a renowned expert in Idoma tradition and history, Prof Armstong Adejo. The only odd against him now is that he is from Apa LGA where the first class for the two LGAs, Baba Odangala hails from. But the same proponents of Adejo candidacy cited a clear example in Tiv Kingdom where the present Tor Tiv, Prof James Ayatse and Ter Kwande all hail from the same traditional Bloc.

Some concerned Idoma sons and daughters are of the view that the First class seat for Apa/Agatu currently being occupied by Chief Baba Odangala from Apa should be ceded to Agatu, an impossible option according to the law of the land which says only death that can do that.

Although, Prof Armstrong Adejo has clear cut leadership qualities endowed him, there are also a lot of qualified personalities in every nook and cranny of Agatu that can still give the Idoma kingdom the expected leadership qualities.

As the great people of Apa/Agatu have just been given 36 hours to come out with a consensus candidate, it is incumbent on them to agree on a candidate that knows the history, tradition, culture of the people and can stand against any force of oppression and slavery.

The new Och’Idoma will be announced on the 30th December, 2021. If a consensus candidate can not be produced before then, a free and fair election shall be conducted to determine the winner.

Olikita Ekani writes from Makurdi.