As part of ongoing moves to forge common front in the overall development of Idoma Land, the National leadership of Ochetoha K’Idoma Forum, an apex socio-cultural body, met with the elected Chairmen of Local Government Councils in Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C), with signaling a renewed commitment to building a secure and forward-looking homeland.
Present at the high-level engagement were the Forum’s Secretary-General Chief Dr. Paul Edeh Esq, the Chairmen of Agatu, Apa, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu, and Otukpo LGAs.
Representing other Council Chairmen, they brought voices from across the zone into what many described as a long-overdue dialogue on the future of the Idoma people.
Professor Ochefu, while addressing the gathering, underscored the historical context and urgency of unity.
He stressed that the socio-economic aspirations of the Idoma Nation must be anchored in deliberate planning, educational empowerment, and collective effort.
Drawing attention to underutilised development assets such as the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Otobi Dam, and the strategic Oju Road corridor, he called for joint advocacy to make these assets engines of growth.
“We cannot afford another cycle of silence and stagnation,” he said.
“This Forum is ready to work with every local government to change the trajectory of our story. What we need is clarity of purpose and the courage to act.”
The President General also laid out the pillars of his administration which include cultural preservation, youth engagement, diaspora integration, strategic planning, and unity of purpose.
These, he explained, form the foundation of a new era for the Idoma people.
The response from the Council Chairmen was affirmative and forward looking. Agatu Chairman and ALGON Vice Chairman in Benue State, Hon. James Melvin, commended the tone and structure of the dialogue, pledging sustained partnership in addressing insecurity and youth empowerment.
Otukpo LGA Chairman applauded the new leadership’s proactive approach, noting the shift from ceremonial advocacy to practical conversations with carefully laid out plan was commendable.
Other Chairmen also pledged their support for the new Ochetoha K’Idoma leadership and promised to convey the outcome of the meeting to other chairmen who were unavailable absent.
Prof Ochefu in his remarks, assured the Chairmen that Ochetoha K’Idoma would be a bridge, not a barrier. He emphasized the Forum’s readiness to harmonize local voices and facilitate the push for government attention to pressing Zone C needs such as infrastructural development and insecurity in the Zone.
As the meeting drew to a close, participants agreed on the need for quarterly review sessions and a harmonized framework for joint advocacy. The meeting ended on a note of optimism, signaling a shared determination to reposition the Idoma Nation for peace, progress, and generational impact.
