You don’t deserve our respect yet – Benson Abounu tells Och’Idoma to obey tradition

Former Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu, has declared that while the current Och’Idoma, HRM Elaigwu John Odogbo, is legally occupying the throne, he has not yet earned the full acceptance and respect of the Idoma people.

IDOMA VOICE reports that Abounu stated this over the weekend during a town hall meeting organised by the Benue Rebirth Movement, a socio-political group campaigning for unity and cultural revival in Idoma land.

He said the legitimacy of the Och’Idoma’s selection was not in doubt as it followed the provisions of the 2016 Chieftaincy Law. However, he stressed that legitimacy alone was not enough without a deep connection to the wishes and cultural expectations of Idoma people.

According to him, many Idoma sons and daughters have been expressing dissatisfaction privately, insisting that the traditional institution must reflect the customs and collective interest of the people rather than political influences. “Our Och’Idoma is legitimate, yes. But he must do what the Idoma people desire. Respect is not automatic,” Abounu said.

He argued that the authority of the traditional ruler must stem from the hearts of the subjects, warning that the perception of political interference in the throne has weakened cultural reverence. “When the Och’Idoma aligns with the true aspirations of the people, we will crawl for him, kneel before him, carry him on our heads and proudly showcase him,” he added.

Abounu called for a committee to be set up by the umbrella body of Idoma organisations to engage the palace on areas where the people expect correction, saying such collective action would be better understood and respected than individual voices.

He said, “We must have an Och’Idoma that we strongly respect. An Och’Idoma who, if he calls any son of Idoma, no matter how highly placed, that person will run. Today, is that happening? I must insist on an answer to that question because behind us, in the comfort of our various homes, every Idoma person today is angry. We are not happy.

“I keep talking with people. At the BRM meeting we held in Abuja at the Air Force Conference Centre, prominent Idoma sons were there. Before we went inside, I was standing at a corner with two prominent Idoma people,o one has gone to be with the Lord. What were they discussing? The legitimacy of the current Och’Idoma. And everybody was insisting that the current Och’Idoma is not legitimate. But I said, “No, you are wrong.” The man, his stool, his occupation of that stool is legitimate. Why? Because he was selected and appointed according to the 2016 law. Even if you take it to an international court in the Hague, you will not win.

“However, it is one thing to be a legitimate chief. It is another thing entirely to be widely accepted. It is yet another thing to be respected. And it is completely another thing to lead according to the wishes of your subjects.

“I am a Knight in my church. I am not a Pentecostal, but that does not mean I look down on Pentecostals. We belong to the conventional churches:

“I am a Knight in my church. And I have told my people that the day I die, I should be buried according to Christian rites. But that does not mean there is no culture. Excuse me, sir (talking to Bishop Apochi) do the Idoma people not have a culture? Exactly! And some of our cultural practices even intertwine with Christian practices. You know why? Ol’ata aj’idó maleka, epe epele eródi, ede n’ifage. We call it tradition, don’t we? According to our culture.

“Sir, do we not understand that even in the church there are traditions? And if you study the Old Testament — from Genesis to the end — yes, it may not be directly applicable in some aspects today, but my understanding is that it teaches us the history of the Jews. Their culture and their traditions are embedded there. So why would anybody say that because I am a Christian, my people do not have a culture? It is not correct.

“I am telling you today what Idoma people keep saying behind closed doors but refuse to say publicly: our Och’Idoma is legitimate, he is the rightful one. But he must do what the Idoma people desire. When he does that, we will crawl on the floor for him. We will respect him. We will kneel. We will carry him on our heads. We, not outsiders, will showcase him proudly.”