A Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 8
Widely perceived as one of the direct outcomes of apathetic representation from traditional Naga apexes such as the Naga Hoho, the Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) has finally been declared a pan-Nagaland or state-level council.
The official declaration of the CNTC as a statewide council was made on Tuesday, December 8 at the Lotha Ki in Dimapur. The declaration was a part of a solemn observance of the organization’s 3 years of existence.
The CNTC which was launched in the year 2012 comprises three major tribes of Nagaland namely the Ao Naga, the Lotha Naga and the Sumi Naga.
Popular sentiments among citizens of Nagaland view the organization to be an outcome of perceived failure of state and major tribal platforms in addressing grievances relevant to the citizens of Nagaland during the past one decade. A similar case is the central Nagaland students’ association.
The CNTC was declared as a state council during a ceremony that also had in attendance the community leaderships of the Ao Naga, Lotha Naga and the Sumi Naga tribal groups.
President of the apex Ao Naga organization Ao Senden Imolemba Ao, president of the apex Lotha Naga organization Lotha Hoho, Mhao Humtose, and president of the apex Sumi Naga organization Sumi Hoho, Toniho Yeptho were in attendance overseeing the ceremony. Besides said leaders, officials and leaders of various other ‘hohos’ and unions of the tribes in concern attended the event.
In his address, president of the Ao Senden Imolemba Ao spoke about the importance of the communities working in unity. Only with unity ‘changes and advancement’ can take place in the state and among the people.
In his brief speech, Lotha leader Mhao Humtsoe said ‘disunity’ among the Naga tribes was the main reason that was stopping Nagaland from marching forward in peace with other communities. He made it clear that every group has the right to form any organization provided that the union or group was to work together for the welfare of the society. However, he said that the aims and objectives of any community platform union will never be successful if all the tribes in concern were not united.
Likewise, the president of the Sumi Hoho, Toniho Yeptho, advised all the council members to work together and united for the welfare of the state while striving to be an organization that can bring good name to Nagaland.
The presidential address during the event was given by the president of the CNTC, Hokiye Yeptho, while the introduction to the program was given by vice president of the CNTC, Khondao Ngully.
