Wokha, November 7 (MTNews): Addressing the Lotha Tokhü Emong festival at Local Ground Wokha, organized by Lotha Hoho on November 7, Imkong L Imchen said that he came to attend as the special guest as an invitation to the house of CNTC.
Imchen spoke highly of the Lotha community and recalled how it strengthened the Naga movement through a number of Wokha district resolutions. He also said that ‘Hoho’ was adopted by all Naga tribes because it was appropriate for naming an apex organization.
He also stated that under the initiative of the Lotha Hoho, erstwhile known as the Lotha Tribal Council (LTC), the first Naga convention was organized in Wokha. He said that the Lotha community envisioned a Naga collective, a general platform, and the Naga Hoho came into being.
However, despite all efforts to bring Nagas of Nagaland together through the Lotha Hoho initiative, he lamented that the Naga Hoho has become narrowed down over time with various associations and divisions among the Naga tribes. He also expressed regret that the Lotha Hoho, which was the brainchild behind the formation of one platform, had been separated from the Naga Hoho itself and stated that the original mandate of the Naga Hoho has been diluted.
He called upon the Lotha Hoho to study once more and to push forward in restructuring what they had started so that Nagas in Nagaland would have a single common platform.
Meanwhile, he stated that the recently formed Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) is a ‘naturally formed organization’.
He reasoned that all other tribes, such as the Eastern and Southern Nagas had their own associations, leaving only the Aos, Sumis, and Lothas, and thus CNTC was formed naturally.
He went on to say that because CNTC is a natural formation, it has no agenda to discriminate or be against anyone, but rather to support everyone.
“We act, think, and perform responsibly, so CNTC is the core of Naga,” he said, adding that the three tribes are falling behind in terms of development and infrastructure, with bad roads, despite the fact that the three tribes have done nothing wrong and have no plans to do anything against anyone.
He also wished the Lotha community prosperity through the celebration of the Tokhü Emong Mini Hornbill Festival, as well as to revitalize the Lotha community’s goodness so that they can continue to contribute to Naga society in general.
The three-day program and five-day Tokhü Night carnival concluded with Er. Mhathung Kikon, executive engineer (R&B), Wokha, as the valedictory guest, and the music event closed out the annual mini-hornbill event.