A tax expert with a profound integrity and excellent character, Pastor John Eliagwu Odugbo emerged the new Och’Idoma after a keenly contested election on Thursday, in Otukpo, Benue State, the Idoma Traditional headquarters.
Pastor Eliagwu got 19 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Architect Sonny Echono and Barr Andrew Idankwo who had 8 and 1 votes respectively out of a total of 28 casted votes.
Speaking at the palace of the Acting Och’Idoma while presenting the Och’Idoma elect to the Acting Och’Idoma, Engr. George Edeh, after the exercise, the leader of the electoral team from Makurdi, who is also the Benue State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and Supervising Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Dennis Ekpe Ogbu, said they were at the palace to present the Och’Idoma- Elect to him. He expressed happiness for the successful exercise saying, it was rancour free. He thanked the selection team for their understanding and the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom for providing the enabling environment for the selection.
“Your Royal Majesty, as the leader of the team from Makurdi that came to conduct the selection exercise for the new Och’Idoma, we are here to present the Och’Idma -Elect to you and your council members.
The exercise was successful, free and fair and devoid of any rancour. And here is the new brand Och’Idoma -Elect, Pastor John Eliagwu Odugbo.
I must thank you and your chiefs for the cooperation given to me and my team to ensuring the success of the exercise. We must also thank the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu for providing the enabling environment that result in this peaceful selection.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr Ken Achabo, congratulated members of the Idoma Area Traditional Council for their peaceful selection of a new Och’Idoma in the person of Pastor John Eliagwu Odugbo from Agatu Local Government even as he assured the new Och’Idoma -Elect of the support of the Bureau to enable him succeed.
He noted that the selection was devoid of bitterness and rancour, pointing out that, the fact that the other contestants congratulated the Och’Idoma Elect on his emergence was a testimony to the free and fair nature of the exercise.
“At the point of the exercise, the contestants were five, one voluntarily stept down, one could not get nomination and had to go, leaving, Pastor John Eliagwu, Architect Sonny Echono and Andrew Idankwo to slug it. And as luck would have it, herein seating in your presence is the winner of the contest –His Royal Majesty Pastor John Eliagwu Odugbo, Och’Idoma – Elect,” Achabo explained.
Responding, the Acting Och’idoma, Engr George Edeh thanked the electoral team from the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for a successful selection of a new Och’Idoma.
He further appreciated members of the Idoma Area Traditional Council for conducting themselves honourabling before, during and after the exercise and also thanked the Benue State Government for its roles in the peaceful exercise even as he congratulated the Och’Idoma – Elect, Pastor John Eliagwu for his emergence as Och’Idoma, the (v).
“Your Royal Majesty Pastor John Eliagwu I, on behalf of the Idoma Area Tradtional Council, congratulate you on your well-deserved victory. I assure you of our loyalty as you step in to lead the Idoma nation for the rest of your life. We, your chiefs will do our best to make your coronation as successful and as memorable as your selection,” Edeh maintained.
panafricreporters report that the selection exercise which took place at the Otukpo Local Government Secretariat on Thursday, had 28 Chiefs comprising, Third, Second and First – Class Chiefs from Benue South casting their votes as one was absent on health ground.
THE MAN COMRADE, PST. ELAIGWU ODOGBO OBAGAJI JOHN.
He was born on 27th March,1969 as the 5th born to the family of Mr. ELAIGWU EKOJA in Obagaji the headquarters of AGATU local government of Idoma in Benue State
BRIEF THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT Comrade Pst ELAIGWU ODOGBO OBAGAJI JOHN.
THE NEWLY AGATU MAN WHO HAS JUST BEEN ELECTED THE OCH’IDOMA THE V!
ELAIGWU ODOGBO OBAGAJI JOHN IS A RESPONSIBLE MAN OF INTEGRITY WITH THE HIGH MORAL STANDARD AND A SERVANT OF GOD.
1- Comrade Pst Elaigwu, Odogbo Obagaji John is a graduate of prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (1994) with B.Sc honours in Accounting
2- Master in Business Administration (2012) from Benue State University.
3- Post Graduate Diploma in Education (2015) from National Teacher Institute.
4- M.Sc Accounting and Finance, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
5- Phd (in view) in Accounting from Nasarawa State University Keffi.
6- He is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCITN)
7- Fellow Certified National Accountants of Nigeria, (FCNA)
8- Associate member of Nigeria Institute of Management.
9- A Group Pastor (Penticost Group)
Deeper Life Bible Church.
Comrade Pst Elaigwu has been running his professional career with Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS where he worked for 23 years and had rose to the position of Assistant Director.
Comrade Pst Elaigwu held so many positions in the organization
Within the period of his stay.
Comrade Elaigwu served as Chairman, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria for two tenure from 2004 to 2012.
ELAIGWU also served as National Exofficio of the same Association from 2012 to July, 2018.
Comrade Pst Elaigwu is an erudite trainer (resource person in FIRS) and a thorough professional with vast experience in taxation and Accounting through International training and development among which are:
1- Enhancing Critical Skills in the Fighting Against Corruption, Accra, Ghana, 2005;
2- Enhancing Secretarial Functions for optimum Performance, Benin Republic, 2006;
3- Modernization of Tax Administration- South Africa, 2008;
4- International Seminar on Taxation- Japan, 2011;
5- Developing Strategic Skills for Organizational Improvement, London, 2012;
6- Strategic Leadership Planning and Conflict Management South Africa, 2013;
7- Corporate Governance and Strategic Management Workshop, Dubai- 2015.
8- Globalization and Worker Relationship, New York, USA, 2018.
Comrade Pst Elaigwu left Federal Inland Revenue Service in 2016 to set up his consultancy firm and other related Companies such as:
1- Esan Gods Integrity Consults. (EGIC.) Tax Consultancy and Management firm.
2- Elmaro Elaigwu & Co. (EE&C.) Audit Management consultancy firm.
3- EMEU God’s Professional Academy Limited. (EGPAL.) Professional Training Consultancy Firm.
Comrade Pst Elaigwu is that man who is guided by this noble philosophy of: The longest distance to success is short cut and must not be considered or deared.
Comrade Pst Elaigwu is married to Mrs Martha Omabo Elaigwu and blessed with five wonderful children.