History
In 2013, [2] Prince Edwin Ochai created the Agila Social & Economic Carnival, [3] with the aim of showcasing to the world the rich social, cultural and Economic endowment of the Idoma Nation through art, craft and social exhibitions. [4]
Idoma International Carnival is an annual event held in Otukpo in Benue State, Nigeria. [1]
In 2013, [2] Prince Edwin Ochai created the Agila Social & Economic Carnival, [3] with the aim of showcasing to the world the rich social, cultural and Economic endowment of the Idoma Nation through art, craft and social exhibitions. [4]
The parades and other events happen during the three official days of carnival. [5] The carnival kicks off in the morning on December 23 and stretches to the afternoon of the same day with procession/Parade in Otukpo [6] followed by migration from Otukpo to Apa between the afternoon and evening of the first day. Later in the evening of the same day is another segment known as burn fire and performances by music artists. [7]
The carnival continues on December 24 with carnival displays in the morning followed by a masquerade display and distribution of gifts to widows. Later in the evening on the same day is the performance by HERO's ambassadors (music & comedy).
The morning of December 25, which is the last day of the carnival, is the migration of people from Apa to Otukpo, preceded by the Face of Idoma beauty pageant. [8]
In preparation towards the Idoma International Carnival(IIC) 2018 edition, the founder of IIC and the organizer announced that the carnival will feature 2Face Idiebia popularly known as 2baba as he will be entertaining thousands of people in attendant. Prince Edward Ochai further stated that the year edition will show beauty, hospitality and rich cultural heritage of the Idoma people. [9]
The IIC which should have hold for the 2020 edition was tuned down as a result of the world wide pandemic outbreak called Corona Virus (COVID-19), [10] therefore, in order to express the kind gesture and level of hospitality towards the people by the founder and organisers, the carnival was made to meet certain demands of the people of Idoma who are in need of support in various means, the IIC became a Palliative giving one as it distribute different food and fruits with other packages such as rice, groundnut oil, yam, noodles, hand sanitizers, face masks and cash to meet the need of people. The 2020 IIC was given the theme Ohigbu Acholalo which means For The Sake Of Our People. Prince Ochia made it known in one of his interviews that it will be insensitive for the Carnival for hold and put peoples life at risk and violate the government restriction order. He also revealed that the palliatives were given to the Christians, Muslims, carnival functional groups and participants of the carnival. [11] [12]
In one of the press interviews with the founder of Idoma International Carnival, he made it clear that though the pandemic prevented the celebration of the Carnival in 2020, but in 2021 the carnival will fully hold and the fun and joy of these event will be restored as the theme is OtuOkpoche K’acholalo meaning Hope for our people and will hold from the 23-26 December. [13] [14]
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the 7 states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers States to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo, Jukunpeoples etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; popularly grown crops include: oranges, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, groundnuts, and Palm Tree.
The Idomas are people that primarily inhabit the lower western areas of Benue State, Nigeria, and some of them can be found in Cross Rivers State, Enugu State, Kogi State and Nasarawa State in Nigeria. The Idoma language is classified in the Akweya subgroup of the Idomoid languages of the Volta–Niger family, which include Igede, Alago, Agatu, Etulo, Ete, Akweya (Akpa) and Yala languages of Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, and Northern Cross River states. The Akweya subgroup is closely related to the Yatye-Akpa sub-group. The bulk of the territory is inland, south of river Benue, some seventy-two kilometres east of its confluence with River Niger. The Idoma tribe are known to be 'warriors' and 'hunters' of class, but hospitable and peace-loving. The greater part of Idoma land remained largely unknown to the West until the 1920s, leaving much of the colourful traditional culture of the Idoma intact. The population of the Idomas is estimated to be about 3.5 million. The Idoma people have a traditional ruler called the Och'Idoma who is the head of the Idoma Area Traditional Council. This was introduced by the British. Each community has its own traditional chief such as the Ad'Ogbadibo of Orokam, Chief D.E Enenche. The Palace of the Och'Idoma is located at Otukpo, Benue State. The present Och'Idoma, HRM, Elaigwu Odogbo John, the 5th Och'Idoma of the Idoma People was installed on the 30th of June, 2022 following the passing of his Predecessor HRH Agabaidu Elias Ikoyi Obekpa who ruled from 1996 to October 2021. Past Och'Idomas also include: HRH, Agabaidu Edwin Ogbu, who reigned from 1996 to 1997, HRH, Abraham Ajene Okpabi of Igede descent who ruled from 1960 to 1995 and HRH, Agabaidu Ogiri Oko whose reign took place between 1948 and 1959.
Makurdi is the capital of Benue State, located in central Nigeria, and part of the Middle Belt region of central Nigeria. The city is situated on the south bank of the Benue River. In 2016, Makurdi and the surrounding areas had an estimated population of 365,000.
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, is a retired Nigerian Army Brigadier General and politician. He was President of the Senate of Nigeria from 2007 to 2015 and was the Senator for Benue South Senatorial District Benue State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to his senatorial career, Mark was the military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 and the Minister of Communication.
Otukpo is a town in Benue State, Nigeria located in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria. It is also the eponymous name of a subgroup of the Idoma people. Otukpo is the headquarters of the Otukpo Local Government Area. It was the headquarters of the former Idoma Province, and remains an important town in Idomaland, an area mainly populated by the Idoma speaking people, though with numerous local dialects spoken in the diverse reaches of Idoma land. Otukpo Idoma language is the umbrella lingua.
Idoma is the second official language spoken in Benue State in southeast-central Nigeria, by approximately 600,000 people. The Idoma language is made up of the dialects of Agatu, Otukpo, Otukpa, Orokam, Akpa Agila, Utonkon, Igede, Etilo, Iyala. The Idoma people are predominantly hunters, farmers and fishermen. They are bordered to the north by Nasarawa, south by cross river, east by Taraba and west by Enugu and Kogi States.
Agatu is a Local Government Area of Benue State, North Central Nigeria. It was created in 1996. It used to be the Agatu district of the old Otukpo division. The headquarters of the local government is at Obagaji; it is one of nine local government areas in the southern senatorial zone of Benue State which is mainly occupied by the Idoma people of Benue State. The resident population are mainly farmers.
Lawrence Anebi Onojalisten was the military governor of Plateau State, Nigeria from 1986 to July 1988 and then of Katsina State until December 1989 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He later became Principal Staff Officer to General Sani Abacha, before being arrested for alleged involvement in a coup attempt. He retired from the army in 1998, and after the return to democracy in May 1999 with the Nigerian Fourth Republic entered into politics.
The Igede people are a Nigerian ethnic group in Lower Benue State of Nigeria. They are native to the Oju and Obi local government areas of Nigeria, where 2006 population figures stand at an estimated 267,198 people. However, many Igede people are dispersed across the state and the Nation. For instance, the Igede language is also spoken in Nigeria's Cross River State, and many Igede communities exist in Osun State and Ogun State. The Igede language is a member of the Benue-Congo subgroup of the Niger-Congo language family.
Agila Town is the traditional home of the Agilan people from Ado local Government area, Benue State. Ado is a local government area of Benue State, Nigeria and was created in 1991. Nigeria is an independent country situated in Western Africa.
Patrick Abba Moro is a Nigerian educational administrator, politician and former Minister of the Federal Ministry Of Interior. He is currently the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi. In 2019, he was elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria replacing David Mark, a two-term senate president and one of the longest serving Senators in Nigeria.
Mike Okibe Onoja is a Nigerian Businessman, and a public administrator from Ado LGA, Benue state. The Chairman (CEO) of Monsoons Resources Investment International Limited and Century court Apartments, Century Petroleum Ltd, Shipping line, Shares with Valero Energy, ConocoPhillips, Zenith Bank, British Airways, ExxonMobil and many more. "Monsoons resources Investment International". Monsoons Resources Investment International. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.</ref> He also holds chieftaincy title as the Akanaba K'Idoma.
Ada Ameh was a Nigerian actress who spent more than two decades in the Nigerian movie industry and was most notable for her character as Anita in the 1996 movie titled Domitilla and as Emu Johnson in the award-winning Nigerian television series titled The Johnsons. Ameh in The Johnsons television series featured alongside other Nollywood actors such as Charles Inojie, Chinedu Ikedieze, and Olumide Oworu.
Benue South Senatorial District covers Ado, Agatu, Apa, Obi, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Oju, Okpokwu, Otukpo and Gboko. Nigeria’s longest serving senator, David Mark who was president of the 6th and 7th Assembly is from here. David Mark was first elected in 1999 and left at the end of his 5th term in the Senate in 2019. The current representative of Benue South is Abba Moro of the People's Democratic Party, PDP.
Blessing Onyeche Onuh is a Nigerian politician from Benue State. She represents Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. She is the daughter of former Senate President David Mark.
The 2015 Benue State gubernatorial election was the 8th gubernatorial election of Benue State. Held on April 11, 2015, the All Progressives Congress nominee Samuel Ortom won the election, defeating Terhemen Tarzoor of the People's Democratic Party.
The 2023 Benue State gubernatorial election will take place on 11 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Benue State, concurrent with elections to the Benue State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. It will be held two weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Samuel Ortom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
Innocent Achanya Otobo Ujah is a Nigerian Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the current Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Medical Science, Otukpo, Benue State and the president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The 2019 Benue State House of Assembly election was held on March 9, 2019, to elect members of the Benue State House of Assembly in Nigeria. All the 30 seats were up for election in the Benue State House of Assembly.