Prominent sons and daughters of Idoma gathered in Otukpo, concerned over the recent sporadic attacks by marauding herdsmen and other security challenges.
After deliberating all day, a high-powered and expert committee was set up immediately.
The following resolutions were made at the end of the day ;
1. Unity – To set up an Idoma Local Orientation Platform to champion the Idoma Unity drive, especially through arts and poetries.
Before we collectively stand firm on our common grounds, we MUST learn to stay united with a clear understanding of the essence of brotherly unity, love, fairness, and equity.
2. Engage the Federal Government- That this meeting would send a high-powered Idoma stakeholders delegation to the ONSA to properly situate our case and the dire need of our people, for onward transmission to the President of the FRN.
3. Youths and Community Engagement – The youths and communities would be engaged and sensitized not to take laws into their hands. But to always stay vigilant for odd faces and strange movements within their communities.
4. Determinate and stop indigenous schemers of our common patrimony – An Idoma proverb suggests that it is the rats in the house that invites the stray rats home.
5. To establish an Idoma Development, Economic and Security Committee (IDESC)- to advocate the Idoma cause from an organic and organized perspective.
This is aimed at curbing youth restiveness and related vices within the Kingdom.
It would primarily be a central tool for women and girls’ capacity development, seeing that this ugly trend has rendered many women widows and many children orphans.
6. Suspend and investigate any chief indicted in shady dealings with marauders and militias.
To forestall animosity, every dealing in exchange of lands and/or fishing ponds between (individuals or groups) indigenes and settlers alike MUST be duly certified by the Council’s Chairpersons through the lands and survey departments.
7. Obi/Otukpo communal clashes – That an intercommunal dialogue approach be initiated and midwife by reputable indigenous conflict resolution experts within the border communities of Obi/Otupko- for the level of damages to be assessed, and documented- and an independent/standalone power control station be built in the Ijegwu community of Obi LGA.
8. Idoma National Fasting and Praying Week-
A specific day will be agreed upon whereby all sons and daughters of Idoma worldwide will partake in this all-important program.
9. Established the Idoma Cultural Week- a time when all sons and daughters would come and showcase our rich cultural heritage and revive Idoma’s tourist potential.
Onuminya Samuel Odoba
Chief Palace Scribe & Media Aide to HRM OCH’IDOMA
9/4/2023