By Jimin Geoffrey
Benue State Government has set 30th December 2021 for the selection of a new Och’Idoma to replace Dr Elias Ikoyi Obekpa who has gone on a permanent hunting expedition.
Governor Samuel Ortom announced this Thursday, December 2nd, 2021 at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi at a meeting with stakeholders from the Benue South Senatorial district.
The Governor stated that the new date was arrived at in line with the Benue State Chieftaincy law which stipulates that a new paramount leader should be selected three months after demise of the previous one.
He then directed the people of Benue South to convene a meeting of all stakeholders on December 15th, 2021 which should be attended by all, irrespective of party affiliations to discuss and determine a suitable replacement for the late Och’Idoma.
Governor Ortom however noted that where a consensus arrangement fails, the King Makers would go into a transparent process to vote among the contending candidates.
Governor Ortom assured the stakeholders that he has no anointed candidate, neither was he going to interfere in the process, adding that to make the process fair, he, the deputy Governor, the Senator, House of Representatives members as well as those of the State Assembly would be present on the selection date.
Special Adviser to the Governor, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Ken Achabo who read part of the Chieftaincy law to give a guide to the selection process said the Och’Idoma will be selected on rotational basis.
Barrister Achabo said the candidate to be considered for the stool must be an Idoma or Igede by descent, and must not beless than forty years, be physically and mentally fit and be conversant with Idoma or Igede culture and must not have been convicted of any criminal offence at any time.
The Acting Och’Idoma, Engineer George Edeh, Och’Apa/Agatu, Chief Baba Odangla and that of Otukpo/Ohimini, Chief Emmanuel Okochi as well as Senator Abba Morro thanked the Governor for initiating the process and assured that it would be smooth and transparent.
Photo Credit: Shimataver Akile.
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