Dimapur, Sep. 5 (EMN): The Ao Senden has issued a statement seeking to clarify the ongoing spate in Naga Hoho, which has seen a number of tribal organisations disassociate from the latter. The Ao Naga community apex gave accounts of a number of events in a statement that was issued on Wednesday.
In the backdrop of the Naga Hoho’s stand supporting the Nagaland government’s recognition of the Rongmei tribe as an indigenous Naga tribe of Nagaland, the statement began, the Ao Senden had asked the Naga Hoho to retract its statement, ‘which was not responded to positively.’
‘Therefore, until Naga Hoho retracts its statement, Ao Senden decided to disassociate from Naga Hoho in a meeting called on September 23, 2016,’ the statement read.
The Ao Senden then asked P Chuba Ozukum, the Naga Hoho’s president, to relinquish office on Nov. 11 2016; he being a representative of the Ao tribe to the Naga Hoho.
The statement read: ‘In response to this, the Naga Hoho in a press release published on 22/11/2016 “resolved not to allow” P Chuba Ozukum to relinquish his post stating that “P Chuba Ozukum’s departure from Hoho does not arise at this juncture as it would prove to be detrimental at the interest of the Nagas in general.’
Consequently, Ozukum was excommunicated from the Ao community ‘for not adhering to the call of Ao Senden.’ However, the statement read, he approached the Senden and “requested us to revoke his ex-communication.” The Ao organisation then held a meeting on Nov. 21 2017 during which it resolved to ‘reconsider and withdraw his excommunication.’
“Some tribal Hohos appeared to be exerting undue influence on the Naga Hoho, going to the extent of trying to call meetings usurping the functions of the president. Therefore, on May 25, 2018, Ao Senden conveyed to the Naga Hoho and its speaker to call for a meeting at the earliest and in the proper procedure,” the statement read. The organisation said to clarify the matter ‘to clear the air surrounding the issue of Ao Senden’s position on its relations with the Naga Hoho as many concerned Naga citizens have been making public statements without knowing the status of our respective positions.’
“If it is not affable for only a few tribal Hohos to drive the bandwagon of Naga Hoho, then Ao Senden is of the opinion that it is now high time all Nagas came together on a common platform and progress in unison,” the statement read.
