MEET THE BRILLIANT CHAIRMAN BEHIND THE SUCCESSFUL CORONATION OF OCHI’DOMA V.
By Francis Urrah;
It is no longer news that the number one citizen of the Idoma kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Agaba-Idu, Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John, was finally crowned on Thursday, 30th June 2022.
The new Ochi’ Idoma emerged as the best man for the highest stool in Idoma land after a very challenging selection period, on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the traditional headquarters of the Idoma Kingdom in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.
The ceremony was graced by many personalities, and the staff of office was handed over to him by the Executive Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom. The ceremony has come and gone, but there is this extraordinary gentleman who has worked tirelessly together with his committee since last year to make the coronation a huge success, which it was. His name is Hon. (Chief) Dennis Ekpe Ogbu, PhD. The Ogakwu K’Idoma. He’s a great man, an Idoma man from Utonkon District of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. I don’t want history to forget him easily the way we have forgotten others who were instrumental in the development of the Idoma kingdom and who championed Idoma politics, people like HRH, Late Amb. Dr Edwin Ogebe Ogbu, the Ochi’doma III of Idoma, and many others.
Today let it go down in Idoma history that there was a CPC Chairman who was so instrumental during the selection, planning and coronation ceremony of the 5th OCHI’DOMA, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Agaba-Idu, Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John.
WHO IS CHIEF DENNIS EKPE OGBU, PhD? He was born to a humble family of Chief and Madam Ekpe on July 29, 1960, at Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. Hon. Ogbu is from Utonkon, a culturally rich and diverse area of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. Utonkon was one of the first areas to have contact with European missionaries; it’s the home of many prominent people, such as HRH, Late Amb. Dr. Edwin Ogebe Ogbu, the Ochi’doma III of Idoma, Late Justice George I. Uloko (Rtd), a former Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Barr. Simon Chuzi Edge, MON Solicitor – General of Benue State and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Makurdi. Late Mr Francis Isagi Urrah Sr, Former Comptroller General Technical of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Utonkon is also the home of Honourable Agnes Uloko, the former Benue State House of Assembly member representing Ado, and many others.
Chief Ekpe Dennis Ogbu, PhD, defeated all forms of youthful challenges that drowned his peers and has risen to his present position as Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development of Benue State.
The young and brilliant Ogbu obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1982 at Army Children School, Kano, and thereafter proceeded to Tony Cheta School of Commerce, Kano, and later transferred to People’s Comprehensive High School, Lessel, to complete his secondary school education in 1986.
In 1988, he obtained a National Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and later proceeded to the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, for a Higher National Diploma in Business Management in 2004. Apparently, because of his sustained love for education, he later gained admission into Benue State University Makurdi for his Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree in 2013 and a PhD at UNN in 2025.
Chief. Dennis Ogbu is a reputable scholar remarkably known for excellent performance, an aura of confidence and administrative pedigree with undeterred charisma. He started his political career in 1990 when he was appointed Supervisory Councillor for Education, and later he was elected as a Councillor representing Ukwonyo Council ward in Ado Local Government Area on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and emerged as Leader of the Legislative House in 1991.
Between 2001 and 2003, he emerged as the Assistant Secretary of the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), after which he was appointed as Transition Committee Chairman of the Ado Local Government area, which spanned from 2003 to 2004, and was afterwards elected as the Executive Chairman of the Ado Local Government Council, where he rose to the position of Deputy Chairman, ALGON, between 2004 and 2006. In 2007, he was returned as the Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government to consolidate the gains the Council had tapped from his wealth of experience and the good performance he had recorded with an unmatchable record to date.
As an administrative supernova cum politician of no mean repute, Chief Ogbu has consistently been guarded and protected for adequate utilisation in the leadership recruitment process that will add value to any sensitive assignment given to him. He was the former Member of the Governing Council, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo; former Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Public Utilities; former Team Leader of the Task Force on Petroleum Products and Price Monitoring, Benue State; and former National Organising Secretary, Forum of Advisers to Governors in Nigeria. He was also the Executive Director of the Rebuild Nigeria Initiative (RNI) North Central Zone and the CPC Chairman during the coronation, among other portfolios. He also served as a member of the Planning Committee for Ortom/Abounu’s 2nd term inauguration before he was reappointed as the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development in July of 2019 to date. He is currently serving as Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development for Benue State, doubling as Supervisory Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism with effect from September 29, 2021, under His Excellency Dr Samuel Ortom, the Executive Governor of Benue State.
A memo for the establishment of the Ufia Local Government Area was presented and submitted at the state capital of Nasarawa State on July 12, 2025, during a public hearing on the review of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) constitution, which was attended by a delegation of Ufia people led by Dr Dennis Ekpe Ogbu, PhD.
He has also worn many awards to his name for jobs well done at various leadership levels.
About the Author
This piece has the kind of depth that makes it impossible to rush through. I found myself lingering over each sentence, appreciating not just the content but the care with which it was crafted. It’s the kind of writing that stays with you, makes you think, and makes you feel all at once.