From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Idoma Area Traditional Council, led by the Och’Idoma, HRM Ogabaidu Elaigwu Ogbodo John, has fixed the traditional bride price at N50,000.
This is also as the council has moved to expunge from practice, all the self imposed and barbaric cultural practices in Idoma land.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Palace Scribe and Media Aide to the Och’Idoma, Onuminya Samuel Odoba and made available to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday.
The decision was reached by the Idoma Area Traditional Council, after, “wide consultation with rulers, political leaders, and most importantly our God-given subjects have come to the informed conclusion that some self-imposed, barbaric, and harsh cultural practices be expunged from the practice of our culture and tradition.”
According to the statement, the council concluded that henceforth, costly burial rites, practice of depriving the children and wife(s) of the deceased from Inheriting his property among others, are prohibited and would be adhered to by all true Idoma people clans, tongues, and people under the Idoma Area Traditional Council.
Speaking on prohibition of costly burial rites, the Council stated that:”The Imposition of costly prescriptions, stipulations, and requirements on the bereaved family for the burial rites of a deceased person is hereby prohibited, in Idoma land. Burial rites should be conducted within affordable means of the family and as much as possible, concluded within two to three weeks from the date of death.
“Prohibition of the Practice of Depriving the Children and Wife(s) of the Deceased from Inheriting His property. The practice whereby relatives deny and deprive the children and wive(s) of the deceased of their right to inheritance of the Deceased’s property, is hereby prohibited.
“For the avoidance of doubt, where the deceased is survived by wife(s) and children, such children and wife(s) shall have the right of first consideration, in the apportioning of the inheritance, in the absence of a written will.”
The Council also deliberating on burial of the deceased’s wife decreed that “The Deceased’s wife shall be buried in her husband’s place, except in special circumstances where the wife during her lifetime, was married to and had children for more than one man; in which case, the wife may be buried in her father’s place to allow other husbands and children to partake in the burial rites. The traditional Bride price in Idoma land is hereby unified and fixed at N50,000.
All forms of stringent conditions, stipulations, and expectations associated with traditional marriage are hereby removed and prohibited.
The council also designated a community burial ground saying “Indiscriminate burial of corpses within and around the community, especially in residential areas is prohibited, forthwith. Every community is mandatorily required to, within a period not later than 31st December 2024, earmark and designate a place in each village or hamlet, as a burial ground, to bury corpses.”
The council said where for any special reasons, a person has to be buried within or around the compound, the permit of the traditional ruler must first be sought and obtained and such burial spot or grave must be marked and secured.