It is no longer news that the Ochi’Idoma IV has gone on permanent hunting expedition and for every vacant throne or position, there must be succession. Consequently, last week, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, called for a meeting of stakeholders from Benue South Senatorial District in order to ensure smooth secession process.
At the meeting, he made it very clear that he will not interfere with the process leading to the emergence of a new Ochi’Idoma and as such no one should dare interfere. He informed stakeholders that the state Chieftaincy Law will be followed to the latter and urged them to abide by the provisions of the law.
According to the Benue State Chieftaincy Law, 2016, the Ochi’Idoma shall be chosen rotationally by a selection committee from among the components as set out in schedule 4 of the law.
The components as listed in the law are Agatu and Apa with principal units being Agatu and Apa; Otukpo and Ohimini with principal units being Otukpo and Ohimini; Idoma Enone with principal units being Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo and Igede with principal units being Oju and Obi.
The law also stipulates that whenever it is the turn of any component to present a candidate for appointment as the Ochi’Idoma, all the main candidates from the component shall be considered.
“For the avoidance of doubt, where a component has produced an Ochi’Idoma, such component shall be excluded from presenting a candidate until all other components have had their turn”
On the qualifications of candidate that shall be selected as the Ochi’Idoma, the law says such a person be an Idoma or Igede man by descent; be not less than fourty years of age; be physically and mentally fit; be a man of good repute and in particular must not have been convicted of any criminal offence at anytime of his life; be verse in Idoma and or Igede culture and traditions and be literate in Western education to the minimum level of West African School Certificate or its equivalent.
The law further states that upon the death, resignation or deposition of the Ochi’Idoma, a succession shall be selected by a selection committee which shall consist of all the First Class, Second Class and Third Class Chiefs in the Idoma Traditional Area Council.
In order to ensure that no vacuum exists at all, the state Chieftaincy Law made adequate provision. “When the position of the Ochi’Idoma becomes vacant, the Governor shall appoint an acting Ochi’Idoma from among the First Class Chiefs, the most senior by appointment from the same linage with the deceased Ochi’Idoma until a new Ochi’Idoma emerges.
“The secretary shall within three (3) months, give seven (7) days written notice to all members of the committee, shall convey a meeting of the committee at the council chamber in Otukpo for the selection of the Ochi’Idoma, the government representative shall as much as possible encourage the emergence of a consensus candidate but where it fails, voting shall take place”.
“The quorum for the meeting of the committee shall be two thirds of the membership of the committee provided that all the First Class, Second Class and Third Class are represented at the meeting.
“At the meeting of the committee, the commissioner or any officer designated shall be the state government’s representative and shall regulate the procedure at the meeting and record or cause to be recorded all proceedings of the meeting”.
On the procedure for the selection of the Ochi’Idoma, the law points out that, “nomination of candidate shall be in writing and there shall be no nomination by proxy or self nomination and where a member of the committee is nominated, such a member shall no longer participate in the selection process.
“Where only one candidate is nominated, such a candidate shall be confirmed by yes votes of the selection committee and shall be deemed to be selected as the Ochi’Idoma subject to the approval of the Governor.
“Where more than one candidate are nominated, the selection committee shall as much as possible ensure the emergence of a consensus candidate through dialogue and there shall be election through voting where a consensus candidate could not emerge and a contestant with the majority of the total votes cast at the selection process shall be declared as selected
“In the event of a tie among candidates with the highest votes, there shall be second ballot immediately on the same day between such candidates and this shall go on until a winner emerges and the state government representative shall communicate in writing the results of the selection process within 48 hours to the governor
“Where the Governor is satisfied that the procedure for selection was duly complied with, he shall approve the selection and the candidate appointed as the Ochi’Idoma, if previously a graded chief or a district head, shall forthwith cease to be such graded chief or district head”.