His Royal Majesty, Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo John, The Och’Idoma V, in deep dialogue with visiting Royalties, Leaders and Development Expert/Analyst at the event.
A combination of Idoma Development and Cultural leaders in the diasporas and Homeland have come together to take a historical decision to elevate the Cultural stool of Och’Idoma from its present venerable position of being the rallying point of Idoma Cultural unity and practice to that of a Culture-motivated all inclusive. Institution for multidimensional and sustainable development rooted in Idoma cultural norms and practices. This historically momentous decision was the end result of a Solidarity and Empathy conveying visit of all presidents and select EXCO members of all Idoma Community Development Associations from across Nigeria, all Ad’Idoma title holding cultural ambassadors from all State capitals and cities in Nigeria and all beaded and appointed chiefs in Idoma land to HRM Dr. Elaigwu Odobo John, Agaba-Idu Och’Idoma V.
Friday 8 to 9th of December 2023 witnessed the first ever spontaneous gathering of Idoma multi-focused leaders from all over Nigeria who were motivated by recent unfortunate existential travails of Idoma land to demonstrate their solidarity and empathy toward the occupant of the stool of the Och’Idoma. These challenging moments have been marked by the recent horrendous armed robbery attack on Otukpo, the headquarter city of. Idoma nation, organized killings in defenseless Idoma communities, economic backwardness of the land marked by frightening youths unemployment and internal disunity.
Developmental Expert/Analyst Suleman A.D. Sukukum downloading sources of developmental drawbacks and how to rise above them at the gathering.
All of these travails, according to the visiting leaders, are contradictions of the Royal father’s publicly acknowledged aspirations for culture embedded peace and economic development in the land, thereby making their visit timely.
HRM with P/A Rtd Major Gabriel Adofikwu and Co-Ordinator of the Reprioritization Project
They came prepared in company of Development Experts, Analysts and historians. After His Royal Majesty welcomed the visiting leaders in a speech laddened with historical facts and figures that traced the rough roads the people have travelled from the old Apa kingdom of the famed Kwrarafa empire to where they are today and high pointing their determination to remain degnifyingly honest and united while maintaining their distinct identities, the visitors, Development Experts and Historians were taken aback by the passion and Royal humility that flowed from his prepared and off-the-cuff speech.
One of the papers presented by Suleman A. D. Sukukum, Secretary General of the Conference Of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAECDA) took the visitors and their hosts through the gamut of why Ethnic Nationalities which should naturally be the engineroom for development find themselves in restrainful holdbacks arising from historical developments that were beyond their own controls. Rising gallantly to the situation on the grounds in Idoma nation as clearly pointed out by public records, the adduced reasons behind the visit and His Royal Majesty’s entreaties, he anchored his presentation with vivid definitions and recommendations. He defined development as as ‘a process’ that creates growth, progress, positive change, or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic improvements to the people”.
Cultural Ambassadors of Idoma Nation in other lands in pin-drop silence during developmental brainstorming.
In his realization of the obstacles that stand face to face with Idoma nation in its aspiration in this direction, he recommended that Idoma nation in cultural custodial stool of Och’Idoma should move quickly to do the followings:
Respected Homeland Cultural Custodians of mixed grades and Classes in rapt attention at the event.
(1) Concertize its nationality identity as an Indigenous nation as enunciated under the UNDRIP. (2), Establish its Laws and Institutions, (3), Confer authorities on its cultural institutions, elders as well as its legislative and executive organs. (4), Create its focused Developmental Sectors Public Service Sectors in such areas as Education, Health, Agriculture, Language Development etc. and (5), establish a Strategic Conflict Management System. Realizing there would be hardly a better time in the future than their visit presented, the assemblage collapsed themselves into think-tanks to address these germane issues. Solutions were raised and hotly debated. Eventually land mark historical decisions doing away with old customs and beliefs that are detrimental to spiritual and economic developments in such areas as marriage and burial ceremonies were taken. Other bold development enhancing decisions were taken. These Specific Resolutions are:
ICDA Leadership from the Plateau
(1) The revered cultural Stool of Och’Idoma, in synch with nationwide best practices standard is elevated from just being the symbol of cultural custodian of the people to an institution saddled with the rigors of becoming a culture-motivated engine room for multidimensional economic and sustainable development.
First Class Royal Fathers at the event
(2) Idoma Community Development Associations nationwide, in its extant sub-national structure is to assume a status of a prominent national organization with a national leadership that cascades down to the grassroots.
(3) The revered stools of Ad’Idomas in the diasporas were agreed upon for expeditious strengthening and proper cultural ethics and norms redefinition to play the expected roles of cultural ambassadors of Idoma nation in other lands. Such reforms have been started.
Chief Barr. Leonard Adejor speaking on behalf of Other Ad’Idomas on their commitment to progress in Idoma land
(4) In view of the long overdue redirection and institulization of the Och’Idoma Stool and office which now requires the services of tested and trusted professionals and related organizations with its cost implications, a sustainable funding formula was put in place with the citizens taking responsibilities of their own decisions by funding the new innovation.
(5) The ICDAs recommended an annual Idoma Summit to be subscribed to by all Idomas.
(6) ICDAs recommended that a committee be set up to unearth and adopt the 2006 Idoma Development Blue Print as the Working Plan for all Local Government Councils in Idoma land.
(7) The ICDAs recommended the setting up of an Idoma Community Security Infrastructure.
(8) The meeting welcomed the proposed integration of ICDA into the VATC admin operations.
(9)) Idoma Community Leaders nationwide pledged their unalloyed loyalty to His Royal Majesty and his stool.
A cross-section of respected delegates at the event
The Communiqué on the event and decisions taken therefrom was signed by Chief Barrister Leonard Adejor, the Ad’Idoma of Plateau State and Chairman Ad’Idoma Forum. Nigeria, Chie Gabriel Ameh Ochigbo, Ad’Idoma, Kaduna State, Chief Gabriel Ukwenya, Secretary General of Ad’Idoma Forum, Engr. Bartholomew Abiche, ICDA, Plateau State and Mr. Godwin Adikwu, representative of Kaduna State.
Barr. Ehoda, President of ICDA Makurdi in attendance.
