Ugboju community calls for appointment of new Och’Ugboju

By Morgan Adikwu

Following the selection of Chief Solomon Apochi as the 3rd Class Chief of Adoka/Ugboju and and his subsequent resignation as the Och ‘Ugboju or District Head of Ugboju in November 2017, the Ugboju community of Otukpo local government area have called for the appointment of an Acting Och’Ugboju in line with the provisions of the chieftaincy law.

The request for a new district head was made today at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi when the elders and kingmakers from the community led by Commandant Nathaniel Ugbor paid a courtesy visit on Governor Samuel Ortom.

They complained that whereas Chief Apochi had long resigned his position as Och’Ugboju, he was still parading himself as the District Head and entering into agreement with an oil company on behalf of the community.

The elders and kingmakers among them the Alapa, the Aidokonya-Itodo, and the Omadachi Okaluwa, the 3 deputies to the Och ‘Ugboju called on the government to invoke Section 21(6a) of the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council Law 2016 and cause the appointment of a new District Head.

They further called on the government to direct the former Och ‘Ugboju to quit parading himself as the District Head or carrying out duties in the name of Och ‘Ugboju

The delegation led by Commander Nathaniel Ugbo informed the governor that following the resignation of Chief Apochi, the kingmakers met on 9th November 2019 and decided that the holder of the Alapa office from Ai-Ogwu clan, Chief Omale Aba be installed the Och ‘Ugboju in line with traditional practices.

In his response, Governor Ortom represented by his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu thanked the people for the visit and commended them for their maturity and peaceful conduct over the sensitive issue. He called on them to remain calm and assured them that government will look into their complaint and respond appropriately.

Governor Ortom, who admonished them to remain calm and await the final resolution on the matter stated that the appointment of any chief in the state must be in conformity with the State Chieftaincy Law.

Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Jerome Torshimbe commended the Ugboju people for their peaceful conduct and assured them that government will address their concerns.

Among the 31-man delegation of elders and kingmakers were Chief Obande Aba and Dr John David from Efeyi; Chief Fred Audu and Sunday Udeh from Igaluwa; Obande Echebiogo and Ijachi Udeh from Ondo; Hon. Nath Ugbo and Adokwu Agada from Ilaba; Audu Agbogo from Oju; Owoicho Ega from Nwaba-Oju, Ejembi Ekwu from Ogoli; Edwin Ocheni from Ogobia, Chief Agbanaka Ijegwa from Ibeji and Samuel Ochiheche from Aokwu.