NPF dedicates Shamator Division Office; Achumbemo Kikon highlights road connectivity, urban planning, and party ideology.
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KOHIMA — The Naga People’s Front (NPF) Shamator Division office was inaugurated on Wednesday by Achumbemo Kikon, MLA and secretary general of the NPF, in the presence of party leaders and workers.
Addressing the event, Kikon reiterated the party’s founding philosophy and reminded everyone that the NPF’s motto, “Fide Non Armis” (By faith, not arms), remains central to its ideology.
He stated that all conflicts must be resolved through dialogue by sitting across the table, as envisioned by the party’s founding elders, who sought to resolve the Naga political issue through peaceful and political means.
He maintained that resolving the Naga political issue remains the main objective of the party and highlighted the sacrifices made by the party for the Naga cause.
Also read: Achumbemo Kikon calls for adaptability at Yimkhiung Students’ Association jubilee in Shamator
The secretary general traced the party’s evolution through various names over the decades, noting that while the nomenclature changed seven times, the flag colours—blue, white and red—the cock symbol, and the motto have never changed, and that the party’s objectives and ideology have remained the same.
With time, he said, the NPF has expanded beyond Nagaland, with five MLAs in Manipur and organisational presence in Arunachal Pradesh, with efforts underway in Assam as well. He described the NPF as a mature, respectable, and grassroots-rooted regional party, noting that it is the oldest party in the Northeast.
He informed that the NPF currently has 34 MLAs in Nagaland and five in Manipur, expressing optimism that the party would be in power and continue working for the welfare of the people. He urged party workers to remain humble, responsible, and transparent in all their activities.
Meanwhile, he also highlighted his meeting with various stakeholders at Shamator town on agendas such as urban development and the environment, noting that Shamator is a new town and a new district. He stressed the need for planned development from the very beginning.
Kikon asserted the need for the public to think collectively for the progress and development of the town and added the need for road expansion. He appealed to landowners to contribute two to three feet of land wherever possible to widen roads, stating that wider roads would ensure better connectivity, improved parking facilities, and overall convenience for citizens.
In this regard, he asserted that Shamator should become a model district and that someone has to start this initiative. He called upon NPF party members to take the lead.
Additionally, Kikon stated that on behalf of the Chief Minister and NPF President, Neiphiu Rio, efforts would be made to identify a reasonably priced plot of land to build a permanent party office in Shamator.
He noted that the NPF already has party offices in almost all districts, with multiple offices in Wokha, Kohima, Mon, and Tuensang, and stated that Shamator should also have a permanent office.
Highlighting infrastructure concerns, Kikon shared his experience of travelling through the Huker–Chessore village road, during which he discussed road conditions with the engineer-in-chief. He pointed out that people of Shamator currently travel via Tuensang, Mokokchung, and Wokha to reach Kohima, but if the alternative road is developed, they could travel via Zunheboto and Phek, saving nearly four hours of travel time.
He said he had requested that the road be repaired at least to the extent that small vehicles can ply, which would greatly benefit the public. Referring to the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region scheme, Kikon said a proposal had been made earlier but was not considered. He informed that he and MLA S Keoshu Yimkhiung have discussed ways to take the project forward.
“I will take up this matter with the Chief Minister,” Kikon assured.
S Keoshu Yimkhiung, MLA and advisor for Youth Resources and Sports and chairman of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) Shamator, in his speech highlighted the political landscape of eastern Nagaland during the 2023 assembly elections and called for greater unity and coordination among party workers to strengthen the NPF.
Keoshu expressed hope that more constituencies could be brought into the NPF by working collectively and strengthening the party’s base in the region. Furthermore, he called upon NPF leaders and workers to work with unity to ensure political growth and regional development.