Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Ejembi Eko, has accused the Benue State Government of neglecting the Idoma nation, lamenting that the area has suffered years of abandonment despite its contributions to the state’s development.
Justice Eko made the remarks on Friday in Abuja during the Idoma Royal Banquet, an event organized to celebrate unity and cultural pride among the Idoma people.
According to him, the renovation of the Och’Idoma’s Palace appears to be the only significant capital investment made by the state government in the entire Idoma kingdom in recent times.
He bemoaned the poor state of infrastructure in the region, noting that essential amenities such as potable water remain elusive even in the heart of the Idoma nation.
“Water pumped from Otobi to Taraku flows through Otukpo Town, yet in Otukpo, it is the tale of the Ancient Mariner — water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink,” he said.
Justice Eko further lamented the collapse of major industries that once gave life to the local economy.
“Benue Burnt Bricks is dead. Only the Rice Mill and the hospitality businesses are barely surviving,” he added.
He called for renewed attention to industrial and economic development across the Idoma kingdom, stressing that the region’s potential in agriculture, natural resources, and human capital remains untapped
