Big Story : Statement by Prof Ode Ojowu on the appointment of 1st Class Chief in Igedeland

Statement by Prof Ode Ojowu on the appointment of 1^st Class Chief in Igedeland

The law setting out the procedure for the appointment of more Chiefs in Benue State has been long in coming. It was first muted under the Adasu Administration 1992-1993. Governor Suswam’s administration, 2007-2015, took up the matter more vigorously towards the end of his second term, but the finalization of the legislative processes for the appointment of the chiefs was concluded under the present administration of His Excellency, Samuel Ortom.

Ever since then, the Tiv people have concluded the appointment of the additional six 1^st Class Chiefs in their cultural domain, including the appointment of their paramount ruler, the Tor Tiv. The appointment of Chiefs among the Idoma and the Igede people was initially held up because our Paramount ruler, the Och’Idoma, sought some clarification which he has got from the government of the state. This clarification was bolstered by in-house sensitization of the Paramount ruler who has since nodded approval for the appointment of the Chiefs within his domain.

The procedure for the appointment of the Chiefs in each of the three cultural units recognized by the Chieftaincy law is unambiguous to all concernedand so need no further elaboration. The main point of this public statement is to appeal to our leaders, especially theDeputy Governor and the APC State Party Chairman to use their good offices to facilitate unfettered autonomy to the Igede people to pick the Chief of their choice as has been witnessed among the Tivs and on-going in other Idoma cultural domains.

Some of our leaders are promoting the allegation that I am interfering with and manipulating the process of picking the 1^st Chief for the Igede people. Some said I took a bribe of NGN4 million from a candidate to promote his appointment, others say the exact opposite; namely, that I am funding this same candidate with my personal resources, while others or same groups say that I have taken this same candidate to His Excellency Governor for endorsement for unfair advantage over the other esteemed candidates. And the said candidate is alleged to have little or no understanding of the history and culture of the Igede people. His alleged promotion by me, therefore, is either for my pecuniary or other benefits to me to the detriment of the Igede people. This is the fragile excuse that some of the leaders are using to ‘rescue’ the Igede people from my ‘evil’ plan. Those who know me and what I stand for will simply dismiss these ill-advised allegations against me.

I have interacted with virtually all the lead candidates in the race- Associate Prof (Chief) John Enyi, Prof Johnson Onah, Commissioner of Police Ogah Ero, Mr Ogbale Ogah and Chief Benjamin Ugalahi. These are fine gentlemen in their own rights. And I am personally delighted that such high caliber of persons come out to contest for the position of the 1^st Class Chief of the Igede people. And my message to each of them is clear: follow the rules as enshrined in the law and engage in fair and self-respecting competition. The Igede culture is rich in the competitive spirit without bitterness and this is what I expect them to demonstrate. I have had the privilege to express this same position to the Governor of the State and he supports the idea of fair competition.

I refuse collective endorsement of any particular candidate as is being canvassed because it brings bitterness, loss of a sense of participation and ownership of the process and its outcome.

As these ably qualified candidates present themselves to the electoral college, let them be persuasive in seeking votes and accept the outcome of the election.

Unfortunately, and with due respect, some of our leaders, especially the Deputy Governor and the State Party Chairman,appear to want the outcome of the process to be dictated, because they believe thattheyhave a dutyto decide who becomes a First Class Chief of the Igede people. I respect their right to hold that belief given their status in governance.  I, however, have my concerns in the sense that there are threeadditional First Class Chiefs to be appointed among the Idoma people and that includes one each in the domain of the Deputy Governor and the Party Chairman, over which the two of them seem not to have as much interest as they do for the one of the Igede people. It is rather unfortunate that the Deputy Governor and the Party Chairman are putting unfair pressures on their own appointed officials of Igede extraction and instructing them to take over the process for the sole purpose of influencing the outcome. Yet, stakeholders who throughouttheiradult lives have continued to toil for the welfare of the Igede people, are seen by some ofour leaders in governmentas ‘interfering’ in the affairs of the Igede people which outcome will either make them victims or victors.

We are encouraged that the Och’Idoma, under whom these Chiefs will serve for a life time, has permitted an unfettered process that will lead to the enthronement of the Chiefs. It is for this reason that I wish to appeal to the Deputy Governor and the State Party Chairman to use their good offices to enhance the development of the Igede and ensure that in this particular instance, the autonomy of the Igede people to decide their fate and God-given destiny is not compromised. I can confirm that these two personalities - the Deputy Governor and the Party Chairman - have demonstrated commitment to the cause of the Igede people in the past and we do not expect less now. I personally hold the Deputy Governor, who we have worked closely together in high regard as well as our Party Chairman who through thick and thin have withstood the test of time.

I appeal to the contestants to come together and in mutual understanding that they are all fighting for a common cause, should not give room for disunity among themselves.

Allowing the Igede people to elect one out of their many lofty sons who aspire to the position of Adirahu-Igede, will ensure that the outcome will be respected and the coronationand celebration that will follow will be untainted, complete and highly valued as well as set the correct precedent for future generations.

Sgd

Prof Ode Ojowu, OFR

January 13, 2017.

Circulation

The Governor

Senator George Akume

The Deputy Governor

The State Party Chairman

Speaker BNSHA

Majority Leader BNSHA

Sole Administrators - Oju and Obi

All aspirants to the Igede 1^st Class stool

State Assembly Members - Oju and Obi