Chief Minister and NPF President Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday reiterated that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) remains the guardian of Naga identity and cultural values, asserting that the unification of the two regional political parties is a result of “God’s grace and will.”
Speaking at the reception programme for the NPF Secretary General at the new NPF Central Office Headquarters in Kohima, Rio reaffirmed the party’s commitment to regional unity and the protection of Naga identity. He delivered an extensive address tracing the party’s formation, evolution, and vision for the future.
Rio reflected on the party’s beginnings, saying that its journey since 1963 and first election in 1964 had been guided by “God’s grace, the prayers of believers, and the wisdom of elders.”
He said that although the Nagas are a small community, “no one has conquered us,” while highlighting the continued protection of Naga land, culture, and customary laws under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873 and Article 371(A) of the Constitution.
“We are here to protect the rights of the Nagas. While we are under the Constitution of India, many provisions of the 16-Point Agreement remain unfulfilled, and we must continue to fight for them,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister also recalled his early years as a youth leader and his role in the creation of the Nagaland People’s Front in 2002, later renamed the Naga People’s Front to include Nagas from Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. “When we formed the NPF, we had nothing but determination. By God’s blessing and people’s support, we built this party brick by brick,” he said.
Referring to the recent merger between NPF and NDPP legislators, Rio termed it a “historic unification” reflecting Naga solidarity. “The coming together of 32 MLAs with 2 MLAs is symbolic of unity and purpose. We are returning to the mainstream historical party that stood for the Nagas,” he said.
He also spoke about the change of the state emblem from the Ashoka Chakra to the Mithun, calling it a symbol of Naga pride and unity. “Our new state motto, Unity, represents our strength.
Oneness makes us strong and earns us respect,” he emphasized.
Cautioning against greed and political division, Rio remarked, “God or nature can provide for our needs, but not our greed. Greed blinds us and divides us.” He urged party members to show discipline, humility, and a sense of duty in serving the Naga people. “To be in a regional party is not easy—it is a burden and a sacrifice. But fighting for the Nagas is our responsibility,” he said.
Rio expressed his gratitude to party colleagues and noted that while he would eventually retire as the 10th President of the NPF, the “legacy, ideology, and principles must live on through the younger generations.” He called upon party leaders to bury past differences and start afresh, stating that “the party serves not individuals but the people; therefore, serving the people should be our priority.”
MLA and NPF Secretary General Achumbemo Kikon, in his speech, stated that the NPF is not merely a political party that contests elections but a movement for the Naga people. He reminded party members to carry that responsibility forward and to prioritize the party’s aims, objectives, ideology, and principles in their work.
He also recalled that it was through “God’s will, people’s cooperation, and the boldness of the Chief Minister” that the two regional political parties were able to come together.
The program concluded with closing remarks from Ahovi Zhimomi, who urged all party members to work in unity and strengthen the NPF’s foundation for future generations. Earlier, the event was chaired by Ahovi Zhimomi, NPF Working President, with the welcome address delivered by H. Chuba Chang, NPF Working President, and invocation prayer by Rev Phomlee Van, Pastor of Phom Baptist Church, who prayed for the new NPF Central Office Headquarters.
