Benue: Former Deputy Governor of benue state Eng. Benson Ocholuje Abounu clears the air on the chieftaincy saga

My name is High Chief (Engr) Benson Ocholuje Abounu, OGBOBULUWA 1 K’IDOMA(The Traditional Prime Minister of Idoma Land). When there is a procession of Idoma Honourific title holders in a palace event, I lead. Let me tell you how the honour was bestowed on me. In 1991, I was Executive Director, Nigerian Ccoal Corporation Enugu. I came home and built classroom blocks for my primary school Alma Mater. The Ochidoma then, Abraham Ajene Okpabi(God bless his soul) in company of a representative of the military governor came to commission the project. He was so impressed as, according to him, that was the first time such was happening in his Kingdom. During his speech, he cautioned that “No lower title by any chief should be conferred on this man as that will degrade his personality”. “I will personally award him the highest tltle of the land”(ie Idoma title). Much later, the award came as OGBOBULUWA K’IDOMA.

Why this story?
If the governor and the deputy have already been bestowed with the highest titles of Idoma land, why the need of sub Idoma titles again? Except to demonstrate that Idoma and Igede titles are pari-pasu?
Some of you may not know that years back the Och’Otukpo Odu attempted to honour the then Vice President, Admiral Aikhomu(God bless his soul), he was severely reprimanded by the then Ochidoma, who happened to be of Igede extraction. Let me repeat. Igede can start the process of opting out of the Idoma kingdom by going through and satisfying all the conditionalities that will qualify them to have an independent kingdom. Until then, they belong to Idoma kingdom under the supervision of the Idoma Area Traditional Council(IATC). Let us be cultivate the culture of peaceful coexistence. Please.

Credit;
Chief Engnr Benson Ocholuje Abounu
OGBOBULUWA 1 K’IDOMA (The Traditional Prime Minister of Idoma Land).
10-9-2025.