Following the recent herdsmen attacks on some communities in the Benue South senatorial district known as Idomaland prominent sons and daughters of the nation have resolved to send high powered delegation to President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the communique made available to newsmen on Monday by the Media aide to the paramount ruler, Onuminya Odoba, the meeting was convened by the chairman of Idoma area traditional council, the Ochidoma, His Royal Majesty, John Elaigwu.
It will be recalled that Igbobi and Umogidi communities in Apa and Otukpo LGAs in Idomaland were recently attacked by suspected armed herdsmen, no fever than 56 people were reportedly killed within the space of three days.
The meeting resolved to set up an Idoma Local Orientation Platform to champion the Idoma Unity drive, especially through arts and poetries having noted the need to collectively stand firm on their common grounds and to learn to stay united with a clear understanding of the essence of brotherly unity, love, fairness, and equity.
Parts of the resolution include, “That this meeting would send a high-powered Idoma stakeholders delegation to the Office of the National Security Adviser to properly situate our case and the dire need of our people, for onward transmission to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“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.
“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.
“To establish an Idoma Development, Economic and Security Committee (IDESC)- to advocate the Idoma cause from an organic and organised perspective” explained that, that would primarily be a central tool for women and girls’ capacity development, seeing that the ugly trend had rendered many women widows and many children orphans.
“Suspend and investigate any chief indicted in shady dealings with marauders and militias” adding, “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”.
On the communal clashes within the axis, the stakeholders frowned at the Obi/Otukpo communal clashes and resolved that an inter-communal 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.
The stakeholders also agreed to have a specific day for Idoma National Fasting and Praying whereby all sons and daughters of Idoma worldwide will partake in the program.
It also agreed to have established t Idoma Cultural Week when all sons and daughters would come and showcase their rich cultural heritage and revive Idoma’s tourist potential.
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