President of the Naga National Council (NNC), Adinno Phizo, eldest daughter of A.Z. Phizo, passed away at Bethel Medical Centre in Kohima, on Thursday evening. She was 94
KOHIMA — President of the Naga National Council (NNC), Adinno Phizo, passed away at Bethel Medical Centre in Kohima, on Thursday evening. She was 94.
Dr. Kezhalezo Angami of Bethel Medical Centre confirmed to Eastern Mirror that Phizo passed away at around 7:50 p.m.
She had reportedly been undergoing treatment at the hospital since October 5 before she breathed her last due to age-related health complications.
Her funeral service is expected to be held on October 10, with further details to be announced.
Adinno Phizo was the eldest daughter of Angami Zapu Phizo (A.Z. Phizo), who was regarded as the father of the Naga national movement and declared Naga independence on August 14, 1947.
Following the death of A.Z. Phizo in London on April 30, 1990, Adinno assumed leadership of the NNC. Within hours of his death, she was appointed acting president at the NNC office in London.
She was formally elected president of the NNC at a general meeting held in Kohima Village Hall on May 12, 1990. Her leadership was reaffirmed at the NNC General Meeting held at Longmisa village on March 14-15, 1991, which was attended by more than 6,000 Nagas. At the meeting, political plenipotentiary power was conferred on her by Zashei Huire, president of the Federal Government of Nagaland.
Adinno continued to lead the NNC (Adinno) group until her death.
Throughout her leadership, she upheld the NNC’s position on the Naga political issue, particularly its assertion that the Naga Plebiscite held on May 16, 1951, in which 99.9% of Nagas voted for independence, represented the mandate of the Naga people.
She consistently maintained that the Nagas have the right to self-determination and sovereignty.