The Naga Hoho has elected a new team of office bearers for the tenure 2024-29 during the general session held on Thursday at Sha Complex Hall, Tahamzam Senapati, Manipur.
According to the search committee report, the new team will be headed by Sulanthung Lotha as president (Lotha tribe) and Atoho K Kiho (Sumi tribe) as general secretary while Pauheu Newme (Zeme tribe, NC Hills Assam) has been made the speaker.
Newly elected president Sulanthang Lotha, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude for being chosen to represent the Naga people and pledged to work for unity among them. He emphasized the importance of unity, quoting the legendary Naga freedom fighter AZ Phizo, and stressed the need to overcome divisions sown among the Nagas.
Sulanthang reiterated the Naga Hoho’s commitment to standing firm against all adversities while protecting the legitimate rights of the Naga people and striving for unification across all Naga areas. He emphasized the significance of the Naga political issue and called for the government of India to demonstrate political will in resolving it. He also pledged to continue working hard to foster better understanding among communities and called for support and participation in the Naga Hoho’s endeavors for the common good.
The outgoing president, H.K. Zhimomi, expressed joy at the coming together of the Naga family and shared his experiences during his tenure. He highlighted the importance of unity and recounted the formation of the Naga Hoho back in 1998.
Later, the office bearers for the tenure 2024-2029 were announced by the convener of the search committee, Inavi Swu, and were supported by the delegates present at the session.
The new NH team also includes vice presidents– RD David Boyes (Anal tribe, Manipur) and one reserved for Central Nagaland. Secretaries include Komral Longphi (Tangsa tribe, Arunachal Pradesh) and one reserved for Central Nagaland. Vikugha Pucho (Sumi tribe) has been nominated as secretary finance and SP Raili (Poumai tribe, Manipur) as info & publicity secretary and David Rengma (N Rengma, Assam) as customary affairs secretary. The post of deputy speaker remained vacant.