Memorial lectures and the development of Idomaland: talk or action?
Development is one theme that has always been a front burner in global issues. It has even gone further than just development, to sustainable development. And the seriousness of the issue has underscored the promulgation of two United Nations (UN) programs: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which ran from 2000 to 2015, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presently running, from 2015 to 2030.
The aim of both Programs is the overall appreciable rise in the standard of living of humans, encompassing the elimination of poverty, disease, and crises, as well as engendering global inclusiveness, longevity, and gender equality as some of its objectives.
Recently, the Ochetoha K’idoma, the foremost socio-cultural organization of the Idoma people of Central Nigeria, organized the Chief Ogiri Okoh Memorial Lecture, an annual event (in honour of their first Paramount Ruler) meant to discuss salient issues of Idoma interest.
This 2023 edition had the theme Strategies for Sustainable Development of Idoma Nation: Perspectives on Framework and Stakeholders’ Synergy, and was very ably delivered by Engineer Dr Okopi Alex Momoh, an intellectual who, no doubt, knows his onions.
In his well-articulated paper, Engr Okopi used the Vision Statement for Idoma Nation, a document resulting from a 2013 Development Conference which dealt with “Framework for Conference Planning, Discussions, and Post Conference Implementation Strategies” as his departure point to lucidly bring out the expected level of development in Idomaland by the year 2030.
The 2013 Conference, which was held at the Double K Resort, Otukpo, was organized interestingly by the Idoma National Forum (now OCHETOHA K’IDOMA) under the leadership of Engr Dr. Okopi Alex Momoh. More interesting is the fallout of that Conference, which was the promulgation of the CHIEF OGIRI OKOH MEMORIAL LECTURE series, with the inaugural one taking place on 30th May 2014, delivered by Prof Tony Edoh, titled “Politics and Development in Nigeria: The Contributions of Minority Tribes and the Need For Political Power Balance.” Between then and now there have been five other Lectures, bringing to a total of seven so far.
Engr Okopi Momoh went to memory lane to trace Idoma development efforts with the formation of the Idoma Loving Union by our elites in Lagos in 1936. Others that followed included the Idoma Hope Rising Union and Idoma Development Association which established Idoma Community Secondary School in Otobi-Akpa in 1973.
It is difficult to point at any other Idoma organized successful Project since then, which brings us to Engr Okopi’s query why Idomaland should be this behind in development indices despite the fact that “The Idoma Nation is endowed with high caliber human resources and a good collection of dynamic youths with great development potentials.
” One cannot disagree with Engr Okopi that the Idoma Nation has produced sons and daughters who have made indelible marks to the development of Nigeria, be it in Politics, the Military, Academia, Industry, Sports, etc. When vast fertile land, and untapped but profitable natural resources are added, then Dr Okopi is rightly perplexed that “… Idoma Nation is still grossly underdeveloped, with low agricultural productivity, unexploited natural resources, people not economically empowered and politically marginalized in Benue State.”
Engr Dr Okopi calls this a great paradox from which he pushed forth his thesis in the rhetorical questions “Is there nothing we can do as a people? Is it impossible for us to come together, think together, talk together and work together in synergy to develop the Idoma Nation?
I dare say we have been coming together, we have been thinking together, we have been talking together. We met and talked on 12th June 2015. We met again and talked on 27th May 2016. We still met and still talked on 26th May 2017.
Then we met again on the 25th of May 2018 and, again, we talked. As if fed up with our meetings and talks, Covid19 came in 2019 and held us hostage until 2021 when we again met on 23rd April, and talked some more. But we have NOT been working together the way we have been meeting and talking. There probably lies the broken link.
It is pertinent to note that Engr Dr Okopi Alex Momoh not only identified our problem but also advanced solutions. In addition, he provided an actionable template with specific timelines indicated.
Brothers and Sisters of Idoma Nation, The Time To Act Is Now!
Between May and end of September 2023, Ochetoha K’idoma, led by AVM Tony Adokwu (rtd), and the Idoma Area Traditional Council should have laid a solid foundation for the transformation of Idomaland, to the glory of God and the benefit of our children yet unborn.
Going by the blueprint provided by Engr Okopi (which can be tinkered with as necessary), a Program Implementation Coordinating Group should have been appointed by now. June is set aside for Constitution of Elders Council to advise HRM Och’Idoma; Identification and Adoption of Sectoral Leaders; Organization and Registration of village Community Associations into a common body at the Ward level, with their administrative structure under the oversight of the Ward Chairman.
Activities for July include Formation of Professional Associations; Constitution of Economic and Social Council; Formation of Coalition of Idoma NGOs; Organization and Registration of District Development Associations under a common body; and Registration of organized District Associations into Local Government Council Development Associations. And August should be the period to take Comprehensive inventory of development needs by Districts and Communities; as well as Inauguration of the Councils, Professional Associations, various Working Groups and Development Associations.
In September, 2023, the Strategic Development Master Plan (for first five years) would then be developed.
Engr Okopi Alex concluded his holistic presentation with a charge to all Idoma people to quit the ‘siddon look’ (watch from the sidelines) syndrome and take action. And in tune with what Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, SAN, has been agitating, Dr Okopi is also saying that “If we cannot get the political power, we should create the economic power for ourselves. With the economic empowerment, we can dictate the political process to our advantage.”
It is time to see how serious we can be for once!