With Chichor as the seat of power, the Bom Palace is made up of nine families, including the Garriba, Yamkan, Chichik, Nemlak, Njokwi, Khokhir, Chumfo, Mamngong, and Tsemi families.

Known in Bom as Kum, the chief has several official duties in the village and is sometimes seen as a mediator in disputes and a general “fixer” of village or individuals’ problems. The chief sees the territorial security and development of the entire village, as well as ensures the unity and wellbeing of the people.

In the presence of the Chief, an individual found guilty of any crime would be required to sit on a rough stone a little away from the chief and his lieutenants, be interviewed, and given the chance to speak the truth. The Chief would listen and contemplate the words, and as a good leader, he might offer advice and counsel the person on his or her behavior. Sometimes, an individual would be required to perform some type of community work for doing something that was not considered in the best interest of the community.

In some villages, a hereditary system is followed where the chief passes on his knowledge and wisdom to his eldest son. The chosen son would then inherit the chiefdom if he is deemed worthy of the role by the elders and other village members. Some villages do not follow this practice and their Chiefs are chosen based on their individual prowess and strength of character. Here, money sometimes exchanges hands and influences the selection of the chief. In other villages too, chiefs are usually men, but women can take the position if there is no male heir. Her son would then become the next chief. In both cases, if a Chief does not meet the expectations of the village or proves not to be an effective leader, the village can elect to remove their support for his leadership.

Bom Village has a unique way of choosing its Fon. The reigning chief grooms a son or other member of the royal family whom he later presents to the village leaders, particularly the kingmakers, hitherto led by Nji Bumtu, for confirmation because of their knowledge and wisdom. The heir must possess such qualities like compassion and sincerity, which must be reflected in the action of the said choice. The heir must be a faithful person who can listen to the peoples’ pleas and can make an effort to assist each and every community member. The Late Chief Jotim, it is not up to the members of the village to ask for help, but the role of the Chief to visit each household at least through the Njis, if not personally. He said, sometimes just by observing, the Chief might notice that people need wood, meat, or water. So, he would see to it that the person or family gets the desired necessities.

Past Bom Chiefs were known for holding such high status and were so respected that people were expected to always speak the truth in their presence. They made critical decisions to advance and improve the life of the whole community. When the leader thought it was time to confront a common enemy, he consulted his lieutenants and the village elders to decide if it was good for the village to go to war. Other roles of leadership were bestowed upon certain individuals, including the Njis, who are mainly custodians of the village cultures and traditions, because of the strength of their character and special qualities.

Although with a very proud people, the Bom Palace has remained an eye-sore since the village was founded. In fact, the late Chief Jotim Garriba lived in his personal house which served as the Palace. But because he considered worldly things as ephemeral, he concentrated on building peace in the village than demanding that a sumptuous palace be built for him. Even when the Bom Village Development Association (BOMVIDA) decided to construct a benefitting Palace for the village, the projection has since remained a paper tiger.

The Bom Palace has always been a busy place, especially for people transiting through the village or high-level guests from the government. Unlike in other villages where the chief would oblige his subjects to donate for the entertainment of such people, late Chief Jotim assumed that responsibility single-handedly for as long as he lived. However, some elite who happened to visit the Palace voluntarily assisted as their pockets could provide. If there is one thing the chief bequeathed to his children (the Princes and Princesses), it is that spirit of being one another’s keeper, especially in times of need. Most importantly, Chief Jotim greatly recognized the value of child education, which is why he ensured all his children went to school, even as he encouraged all other villagers to do the same, without any discrimination between male and female children.