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  • MONDAY UWAGWU: Oborevwori and the UPU Induction: Significance of a Rare Honour

    MONDAY UWAGWU: Oborevwori and the UPU Induction: Significance of a Rare Honour

    By Monday Uwagwu

    Long, long ago, it was held that hardly does a prophet have honour among his people.
    This is because, as a medieval-era English proverb says, (undue)familiarity breeds contempt.

    However, it appears that the notion of inadequate deference to the prophet among his people is changing, and the recent event in Delta State-the induction by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) of the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, into the group’s Hall of Fame- is a clear case of the existential erosion, in fact, an exfoliation, of that notion and its essence.

    Yes, at its 93rd annual conference held in Uviamuge, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori, before a galactic ensemble of Deltans, mainly of Urhobo extraction, was deservedly inducted into the Hall of Fame by the iconic socio-cultural group.
    The rest, as it is said, is history.

    The induction of Oborewvori and the occasion itself are enveloped in a casement of significance and import, as pointed out earlier in the preceding paragraph; aside of eroding the notion of lack of respect for the prophet among his people, the event makes the governor the first sitting Chief Executive of the state to be treated reverentially by the UPU during the pendency of his/her administration.
    Maybe, this special reverence has roots in the historic significance of the place of the subject individual –Oborevwori-in the annals of the Urhobo ethnic group, and even for the entire state: Oborevwori is the fifth elected /substantive governor of the state after Chief Felix Ibru; Chief James Ibori, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Dr. Ifeanyichikwu Ozabor Okowa. As the fifth in the line, he probably carries the rare privilege of Mother Nature, having regard to the Cosmological/ spiritual significance of number five as the number of uncommon grace.

    Even in the world of Literary Studies, the number (line/stroke)five, in poetry , is called the Iambe, ( pronounced I am bay) which is regarded as the most exotic, esoteric and appealing, and hence, regarded as inimitable.

    Oborevwori also sets record as the first indigene of the Okpe sub group of the vast Urhobo nation to be elected the governor of the state. This is aside from the fact that he is also the first Okpe indigene, the first Urhobo and the first Deltan, to have the privilege of serving the state as elected Speaker and elected Governor. Prince Sam Obi, who had served as Governor while he was still Speaker, was not elected governor and only sat in temporarily, following the judicial annulment of the election of then Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, by the Court of Appeal, Benin City.

    Oborevwori is equally the first Deltan to be elected Governor during the pendency of his Speakership, and the first Deltan to serve the state as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly for two legislative seasons.

    Perhaps, all of these elements of the historic garland to his neckline may have informed the decision of the highly respected UPU to give honour to whom it is due.
    Can anyone blame them for honouring the rare and highly revered King Millipede?

    There is also the element of the significance of the induction that lies in the credibility of the octopic UPU, as the apex socio-cultural group of the Urhobo nation, as well as the historic significance of the venue-Uviamuge- which is regarded as not only the birth place of Urhobo cultural pantheon, awareness and renaissance, but also, in a way, its spiritual underpin.

    The dignified presence of the leadership of the socio-cultural groups of other ethnic nationalities at the event equally bears out its rare significance as it typifies the fact that, while the honour is at the instance of his ancestral cultural group, its vibrations and other essences sit pretty across the state, from the brackish waters of the deltaic parts of the southern senatorial district through the lush evergreen region of the Central Senatorial District to the balding landscape of the Anioma Nation (Delta North Senatorial District). The virtual across- board presence of the leadership of other ethnic groups testifies to the appeal of Oborevwori and the brotherhood that bind Deltans together, differences in creed and Mother Tongue notwithstanding.

    Of course, the import of the title of Omorotomo (meaning a worthy child ) of Urhobo land ( which he was conferred with by the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, the first such action by the college of royal fathers) is not lost on anyone; even in these days of the proliferation of chieftaincy titles, it is difficult to find anyone privileged to be so honoured by the conferment of the title by the same name.
    And do you know what? It is not for nothing that our elders, long ago, said that nothing compares with the uniqueness of the silk cotton.

    Beyond all of the other elements of the significance of the induction is the fact of its reflection of popular perception (the UPU,in this instance) of the performance of the governor so far as the predicate of the induction.

    While there may not be a harmonious public opinion on the performance of the Oborevwori administration so far, the fact must never be lost on anyone that, as it is said in ancient Africa, the hunter who regularly hits the evasive eagle in flight requires no further proof of his efficiency at marksmanship. Oborevwori, as a skilled hunter, has hit targets across all sectors of the economy of the state , with the ongoing work/ completion of inherited projects, and the initiation of significant new ones, with estimates holding that no fewer than 136 such new road and allied projects have been initiated (with many already completed)since May 2023.

    The proofs?
    In laying out the predicate of the induction, the President-General (PG) of the UPU, Worldwide), Chief Ese Gam Owe, credited the governor with stellar performance since his assumption of office, 18 months ago.
    And not a few would agree with the submission of the respected UPU flower.
    And the proofs of the developmental engagements of the Oborevwori administration, like the huge feet of the tropical elephant on wet soil, find expression in the diverse sectors of the economy of the state.

    For instance, the governor sustained construction work on the hundreds of road and other projects inherited from the past administration ( the major ones among them are the Ughelli/Asaba highway dualisation project, the Ayakoromo bridge project and the Trans-Warri highway) estimated at more than 1000kilometres in total span, some of which have been completed.

    It has also initiated around 136 road and related projects, work on some of which has gone significantly high on delivery dates.
    It has, in the 2025 budget, provided N2billion special intervention fund for road development in each of the 25 local government areas of the state.

    This handsome provision is aside from the more than N200billion it has earmarked for the same purpose in the state, in the same budget, in which a total of N630. 46billion of the N979.222billion envelop size is devoted to capital expenditure. That is for the upcoming fiscal year, 2025.

    However, ahead of the upcoming budget year, the Oborevwori administration has earned worthy mention in the public space by its encouraging performance, 18 months into its current term of office.

    For instance, in deference to the fact of the strategic importance of security agencies and the civil service in creating the right operational ambience for the cost-efficient delivery of services from the public mains, the administration has provided in excess of 80 new operational vehicles for the security agencies in the state and Permanent Secretaries, the flower of its workforce. The last batch of the vehicles provided for the security agencies consisted of 33 units of Hilux Vans and other brands/types of motorized operational kits.

    The recent donation of the 33 vehicles, which attracted public applause from the echelon of Nigeria’s security architecture, was the second such gesture and event by the administration which, under its MORE agenda, lays adequate slant on the cultivation and sustenance of security in the state.

    In sports, it has hosted and won the first of the several editions of the National Youth Games it is primed to host in the coming years, as well as sustained the Principals’ and Headmasters’ soccer competitions among secondary and basic schools in the state.

    In road construction, the N78billion flyover and road projects in and around Warri /Effurun , being handled by industry giant, Julius Berger, are the plank of the development efforts of the government in the road sector, in which its potent hands have activated work on at least 136 different new projects. All 136 road and bridge projects initiated by the Oborevwori government are equitably spread across the senatorial districts of the state.

    The education sector has also fared well under the watch of Oborevwori, with the sustenance of the four state universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, Colleges of Nursing/Midwifery, Colleges of Education , College of Health Technology and more than 1,200 public primary and secondary schools.

    It has also established a campus of the Southern Delta State University, Ozoro, at Orerokpe, and created a Faculty of Medical Sciences at its main campus at Ozoro.

    The administration has equally established a School of Nursing Sciences at Ovrode in the Isoko nation.

    Governor Oborevwori has equally approved and paid bursary to more than 60,000 students of the state origin in different schools and the Nigerian Law School for the 2023 and 2024 academic sessions. To ensure enhanced penetration of this gesture, the government included many otherwise excluded institutions in the scheme.

    The administration has also accorded due attention to its workforce, not only by the prompt payment of its adopted minimum wage benchmark of N77,000, but, had, long before its peers, introduced and implemented a palliative policy for its employees, under which they could stay off duty twice a week, as desirable, and got paid N10,000 per person per month, over a three -month period, as part of efforts to mitigate the harsh effects of the sudden erosion of the petrol subsidy regime by the Federal Government.

    It has also deployed in excess of N5billion to offset the arrears of the financial benefits of the promotion of affected civil servants, engaged more than 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff into the basic school system, and facilitated a N40billion loan by Local Governments in the state, to offset the huge arrears of retirement benefits for retired staff of the local government system in the state.

    This gesture, a landmark in conception and delivery, remains the talking point of those directly impacted by its soothing effects.

    There has also been real activism in the empowerment segment of the economy with 5, 426 artisans, traders and female entrepreneurs handed grants, while 6,000 farmers were given free inputs to boost their engagements and enhance food security in the state.
    Beside, the administration has also given fertilizer to farmers in the local government areas, just as it has expanded the focus on agriculture under the Result AREA 2-Fadama (Food Security) as well as the release of N1billion counterpart funding for the African Union Development Agency, New Partnership for African Development (AUDA NEPAD), meant to empower 2,000 for farmers for production, livestock and aquaculture. More than 2,000 entrepreneurs within the envelop of the micro, small and medium scale enterprises, have also been empowered by the administration which has also done quite much under WESAP, and the MORE Business Upscale Programme (also named MORE Biz-UP).

    In fact, legion is the number of the projects and other development initiatives taken so far by the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

    But do you know what? The man, Oborevwori, like the responsible priest of the high order of public conscience, understands, on the basis of his conviction, that deference to equity, typified by the spread of the projects across all competing interests, is key to retaining public confidence and the priceless goodwill that it triggers. This conviction is the real reason that a galactic ensemble of Deltans, mainly of the UPU extraction, recently broke bread with Oborevwori, who, by his engagements as Governor, has earned their confidence, a rare vital asset that underpins every exemplary leadership.

    This confidence is the chief predicate underlying the recent great honour done Oborevwori by the people who, by their action, have demonstrated beyond words, their beloved son in whom they have undying faith.

  • What has Taiga got to do with it? – By Francis Ewherido

    What has Taiga got to do with it? – By Francis Ewherido

    Recently, the current executive of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) led by Chief Ese Gam Owe paid a “solidarity” visit to the immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, after he came back from honouring an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Predictably, the visit caused mixed reactions among Urhobos. 

    My interest today is the dragging in of Olorogun Moses Taiga’s name into a visit that has nothing to do with him. When you mention Olorogun Taiga in other spheres of his life, it really has nothing to do with me, but once you mention Olorogun Taiga as UPU President General, you drag me in automatically because I was deeply involved in his emergence as UPU President General and my name cropped up in a visit I was neither privy to nor part of. 

    Some commentators raised some issues and that is my concern today. Some people said the People’s Democratic Party installed Taiga as UPU PG. That is not true. It was the late Chief Johnson Modika Barovbe and Professor Peter Ekeh, the founder of Urhobo Historical Society, some traditional rulers and the late Justice Dugbo among others, who mounted pressure on Taiga to contest UPU President General’s position. Barovbe and Ekeh were the arrowhead. Barovbe sold the candidature to Urhobo Social Club, Lagos (USCL), and it was unanimously agreed. I was the general secretary then and most of us all got directly involved. In fact, the USCL was like the engine room.

    The USCL meeting, where the decision was made, had in attendance members of the PDP, APC and those who had no party affiliations. The member who hosted that meeting was not a PDP member or sympathiser, so PDP could not have sponsored Taiga. The election was held at the Cultural Centre, Uvwiamughe, and he was elected the UPU PG. 

    People talk about Olorogun Moses Taiga as if they are talking about one average man. Taiga never needed a financial sponsor to contest the election. He sponsored himself. Taiga is not your average man. He has three personal homes in London, Lagos and Okpare with compliment of domestic staff. When he came to see me in London after I was discharged from hospital, he came in his chauffeur-driven Range Rover. Ask Urhobo people who live in London how many Urhobos have drivers and domestic staff there.

    You can visit Taiga at home and the Obi of Onitsha, Aliko Dangote, Donald Duke, Goodie Ibru, Bismarck Rewane and other eminent Nigerians will just walk in to see him. While with him, the Oba of Benin can call him; he can also get a call from Aso Rock. If you cannot appreciate great Urhobo men, don’t pull them down. During my father-in-law’s burial, one of the Urhobo financial heavyweights honoured my invitation. I was taking him to where other illustrious sons of Urhobo were sitting. Once he noticed the people in that section were in wrapper, he declined and went to sit in one corner. Some illustrious sons of Urhobo are scared of coming out because they do not want to be unnecessarily dragged or vilified. If that is what we want, no problem, but know that the consequences are grievous. 

    Another allegation, a hackneyed one, is that Taiga conferred the traditional title of “Ochuko r’Urhobo” on Okowa. This was trashed out in the past. I do not know why people are rehashing it. In Urhobo land, only kings give out chieftaincy titles. Taiga has never been Ohworode of Olomu, so how could he have given Okowa a chieftaincy title. The photos are still there; show me where Taiga put aghighon (beads) on Okowa’s neck; or do traditional rulers now give chieftaincy titles without aghighon? I did tell Olorogun Taiga then that his traducers would come after him and that has been it till date. 

    Two separate issues made Taiga to call Okowa ochuko r’Urhobo. One, the release of money for work on the UPU Cultural Centre, Uvwiamughe. Yes, it was our entitlement as an oil producing ethnic group, but in Urhobo land, when someone comes back from his own farm, we say, “dooo.” It’s just courtesy. We are not obliged to.

    Some allege that Taiga misused (they don’t have the courage to say he misappropriated) the money from the state government. I know that the first phase and part second phase of the renovation of the Urhobo Cultural Centre at Uvwiamuge-Agbarho was done from the fund. These included perimeter fencing, roof reconstruction, interior upgrades, and tiling. The current executive is supposed to take it from there. The Urhobo House in Warri was also given a facelift. 

    Those who wish to probe should find out from the then UPU financial secretary and treasurer the details of how the money was utilised and they should make the details public. Olorogun Taiga inherited the bank account used during the time of Olorogun Felix Ibru. In line with his personal philosophy, he was never a signatory to the UPU account and never signed any cheque. The three signatories to the account are still very much alive. All those asking for investigation should go ahead to do so. Since Taiga never signed any cheque, they should ask where he gave approval for the alleged missing money as part of their investigation. But truth be told, Taiga spent over N50m of his personal money to run UPU and on UPU activities when he was PG. The records are there and his EXCO members know. Please also ask for the records.

    Some people treat the Moses Taiga UPU Presidency as a ship that passed in the night: unnoticed and uneventful. You can’t crucify people for holding opinions that are different from yours in a free society, but these I know. Among the promises Taiga made at the start of his presidency were the renovation of Urhobo college and setting up of a microfinance bank to principally provide loans for Urhobo ewheya (women) and ighele (youths). He helped to facilitate the renovation of Urhobo College. 

    Let me throw more light on the Okugbe Microfinance so that people will stop peddling falsehood, not because I am obliged to. My only obligation is to subscribers who have been sources of encouragement for the executive to soldier on. The proposed bank is the brainchild of Olorogun Taiga while he was UPU PG. But he never participated in the day to day planning apart from attending meetings like other subscribers. In line with his philosophy, he was not at any time a signatory to the account, neither was he an interim director. He had earlier set up a committee that could not raise money because they used a wrong template. Prompted by Abraham Ogbodo, I told Olorogun Taiga that we could raise the money. He then set up a committee led by Abraham Ogbodo, my humble self as vice chairman and Dr. Benson Uwheru. The committee also had some other bright minds. Olorogun Taiga provided his personal N5m for feasibility study and other initial expenses when the committee started work; the same way he mobilised the first committee we replaced, although I don’t know the amount.  Since the microfinance bank was his brainchild, we told him to set the ball which he did with subscription worth N20m. 

    Contrary to expectations of many people, the committee surpassed the initial N300m target and raised N409m. Unfortunately, CBN did not give us the license. Subscribers know what happened. I don’t understand why Urhobos, who had the opportunity to subscribe but refused to, want to be informed of the details. Your money dey there? Though it is for the benefit of ewheya and ighele, it is a private enterprise. UPU’s 10 kobo is not there. The subscribers are committed sons and daughters of Urhobo extraction. After the CBN snub, subscribers unanimously decided that those who wanted their money back should apply for a refund and that has gone on smoothly. After some exited, the committee still has over N300m left and we are going ahead with the project. This project will come to fruition someday. Taiga does not need to be the UPU PG when that happens, but you cannot deny him his flowers.

    He also started work on the establishment of an Urhobo-owned university to be named Mukoro Mowoe University. To achieve this, he set up committees twice and mobilised them with his personal funds. As at the time his tenure ended, there were at least four communities in Urhobo land that indicated interest in having the university sited on their land. The current UPU leadership should take it from there. Governance is a continuum; that is why Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is continuing and completing projects started by Okowa.

     Another significant milestone during Taiga’s tenure was the approval by the Delta State Government and Federal Ministry of Education for an Urhobo Language Curriculum for Primary and Junior Secondary Schools, after a 10-year struggle in collaboration with the Urhobo Studies Association. This was the second reason he called Okowa ochuko r’Urhobo. Some people feel this feat is not commendable, yet they lament that Urhobo language is not being taught to Urhobo children in Warri South LGA schools. I don’t understand some of our people.

    Taiga, accompanied by Chief Goodie Ibru and Barovbe, used their personal funds and travelled to London to resolve the long-drawn dispute and division in the UPU UK branch. Before then, the dispute was so bad that children of members from either faction could not marry each other. New branches of UPU were also set up in Nigeria and abroad, including Malaysia, Turkey, Russia and Iyerekovia (Edo State) and existing branches were strengthened. 

    UPU under Taiga engaged both the Delta State and the Federal Government to promote and protect Urhobo interest, culminating in a visit to then President Muhammadu Buhari, where he presented a list of demands on behalf of the Urhobo Nation to Buhari. Let me quickly add that when we left Aso Rock, the only things I left there with were one Tomtom and one bitter kola! No member of the delegation left Aso Rock with a kobo. 

    The UPU under Taiga also intervened during crises in various parts of Urhobo land, notably Uwheru. In fact, concerned about the insecurity in Urhoboland, he made the late General Esio Obada, Chairman of the Security Committee, which included retired and serving security personnel of Urhobo origin, to meet regularly and come up with a blueprint for curtailing insecurity in Urhoboland, but Obada died before the execution of the master plan. However, the security committee played a role at one point in curtailing the excesses of the herdsmen in Agadama, Uwheru. The current UPU leadership should dust up the blueprint and implement it. There is still insecurity in Urhoboland.

    Olorogun Taiga continues to intervene in communities in Urhobo land. Taiga was one of the illustrious Urhobos who sent a cow, foodstuff and N500,000 cash to the Okuama IDP camp. What exactly do some people want? If you like, see Olorogun Taiga as a foot mat or failure as UPU PG, but some of us are proud to be associated with a “failure” like Olorogun Moses Taiga.

    On a final note, I have no relationship with the current UPU executive led by Chief Ese Gam Owe, but let me say this: why do we, Urhobos, enjoy blaming the tennis racket instead of the player? A UPU Congress was held where Urhobo delegates from the 24 kingdoms overwhelmingly voted them in. The chairman of the electoral committee, an illustrious Urhobo son and an APC chieftain, Chief Simeon Ohwofa, confirmed to me that the election was not rigged, though delegates were financially induced, according to those present. The question is, were guns put on the heads of the delegates to vote in this executive? What happened self-worth and odavwe r’Urhobo (Urhobo interest)? Only money matters? Let us continue chasing shadows instead of dealing with the substance. UPU is a cultural body and it is the responsibility of every Urhobo to make it remain so. Ordinarily, anybody contesting for a UPU position should have a track record of having the interest of the Urhobo Nation at heart, not people who are looking for elevation, validation and pecuniary gains.

  • Seasoned medical practitioner, Lucky Eghagbevwa emerges UPU Ireland president -elect

    Seasoned medical practitioner, Lucky Eghagbevwa emerges UPU Ireland president -elect

    A seasoned medical practitioner Lucky Eghagbevwa has emerged president -elect of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU Ireland.

    Eghagbevwa in his brief acceptance speech after the election, vowed to take members to a new dimension carrying all along all using transparency, honestly as pathfinders to deliver results.

    He promised welfare of members during his tenure will remain paramount as he discharges his duties.

    MEET Lucky Ohwofasa
    Eghagbevwa
    Lucky Ohwofasa Eghagbevwa is a highly accomplished individual
    with a diverse educational background, extensive professional
    experience, and a strong commitment to community development. His
    passion for making a positive impact is evident through his various
    roles and initiatives aimed at uplifting those in need. Lucky is married
    to Jenice Fasa Eghagbevwa, and their marriage is blessed with
    children.
    Educational Qualifications:
    – MSc in Psychosocial Intervention in Mental Health Care (Currently
    studying), University of Limerick
    – BSc in Nursing (Mental Health), Northumbria University,
    Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, 2021
    – Business Management Degree, Dublin City University, Republic of
    Ireland, 2012
    – Higher Diploma in Personnel Management, University College
    Cork, Republic of Ireland, 2011
    – Level 6 Certificate in Business Management, Cork College of
    Commerce, Republic of Ireland, 2009.
    – Diploma in Law, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Delta State,
    Nigeria, 2004
    Work Experience:
    – Registered Mental Nurse, HSE (Health Service Executive), 2023 –
    Present
    – Staff Nurse, Cygnet Healthcare, Hexham, England, 2021 – 2023
    1 | P a g e
    – Support Worker, Cygnet Healthcare, Hexham, England, 2018 – 2021
    – HCL, Technology (Eir Telecommunications), Cork, 2011 – 2018
    Leadership and Community Involvement:
    – Founder and CEO, Fasa Hope Foundation
    – Co-founder Delta Youth Movement
    – Former Vice President, UPU Ireland
    – Pioneer Public Relations Officer (P.R.O), UPU Ireland
    – Former Vice Chairman, Enerhen Community Development
    Committee (ECDC)
    – Former Chairman, Enerhen Community Contractor’s Committee
    (ECCC)
    – Former Director of Youths and Sport, UPU UGHELLI (Youth
    Wing), Udu chapter, 2001
    Lucky’s exceptional communication and negotiation skills have
    enabled him to excel in his leadership roles, allowing him to
    effectively advocate for community needs and initiatives. His
    dedication to service and continuous personal development position
    him as a significant contributor to the well-being of his community.
    Overall, Lucky Ohwofasa Eghagbevwa’s impressive qualifications,
    professional experience, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the world make him an outstanding individual
    dedicated to community advancement and support.

    Acceptance Speech:

    Dear esteemed members of the Urhobo Progress Union Republic of
    Ireland (UPUI),
    I stand before you today with utmost humility and gratitude for the incredible honour you have bestowed upon me by electing me as the
    President of UPUI. I am deeply humbled by your trust in my ability to lead this esteemed organisation towards a brighter future.

    Before I delve into our vision for the future, I must take a moment to
    acknowledge the unwavering dedication and hard work of the
    outgoing executives, especially our President who has served UPU
    Ireland diligently for almost a decade. Their contributions have been invaluable, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their tireless
    efforts in advancing the mission of our organisation.

    “As we embark on this new chapter together, I want to assure each one
    of you that the new leadership under my guidance will work selflessly for the betterment of all our members. Transparency, honesty, and open communication will be our guiding principles, and we pledge to keep you, our members, informed whenever we encounter challenges.

  • UPU reacts over Oborevwori’s victory at Supreme Court

    UPU reacts over Oborevwori’s victory at Supreme Court

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide has congratulated Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on his victory at the Supreme Court on Friday.

    Speaking to journalists at a Press Conference held at the Urhobo Cultural Centre, Okere, Warri, Delta State on Sunday, President General of UPU, Chief Ese Gam while congratulating Governor Oborevwori, said; “the storm is over”.

    The UPU also appealed to the opposition to sheath their swords, join hands and support Governor Sheriff Oborevwori led government to move the State forward.

    According to him, “I use this opportunity to appeal and implore all our other sons from other political parties particularly the APC, SDP and Labour Party to come together and let’s reason under the UPU body so that we can be better equipped to assist our son and Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.”

    The UPU also congratulated the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Labour Party, LP and the Social Democratic Party, SDP and others who contested the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

    Chief Gam said since the election of the incumbent governor, Urhobo nation has been in tentacles. It has been so tensed, very disturbing. The most disturbing part of it, is that all the contending forces are all Urhobo sons. That’s the most disturbing part of it was not a fight between Urhobo ethnic body and any other nationality in Delta State. It was more or less an in-house fight.

    “As a matter of fact, the UPU, Urhobo Progress Union, so many things had in mind, were put on hold after consultation with some stakeholders particularly, the traditional rulers.

    “Now, I can say confidently that the storm is now over. If the storm is over, we can say too that this press conference is geared towards letting Urhobo nation to know that the cacophony or voices have been collapsed at this particular time.

    “We now have a governor on record for four years, God willing, for eight years. If we cannot as an Urhobo body come together, get united in other to move Delta State forward, history will not forgive us.

    “Why I say this is because the incumbent governor from the report sheet we are receiving started by hitting the ground running. All these stories about Julius Berger coming to Delta State are stories we never heard before.

    “Only about two days ago, somebody said on Facebook that the present governor has not borrowed money to do anything. These are the things we never seen. So, no matter what happens, like I tell people except the Lord build, those who build, build in vein.

    “This particular governor is branded and built by God. If not, like he said, he suffered 38 pre-election and post election cases. What can be more difficult than that?

    “Having said that, I congratulate the governor. I congratulate all those who contested in the election. Both PDP, APC, Labour Party, SDP and all because they’re all our sons. We congratulate them.”

    The UPU President further said; “it’s good for all to come together since the case at the Supreme Court has come to an end.

    “In every contest, there must be a winner. There must be a victor. What we don’t want is a vanquish. I know the Governor has a large heart. He is not a punishment officer.

    “So, I will on behalf of the UPU which is the umbrella body of the Urhobo Progress Union all over the world implore him and let him know that it is the God that he serves that put him there.

    “It’s not by might. Bible says, provision does not come from the North, East, West or South. Rather, it comes from God and does not discriminate.

    “You know the story of the prodigal son. Even after wasting the wealth of the father, he still came back. The father was the most joyous.

    “Whoever, that comes, whoever that has decided to change his mind to work with this government, we beg the governor to accept such persons wholeheartedly without fear or favour, ill-will.”

  • Stay away from partisan politics, Ewherido to UPU

    Stay away from partisan politics, Ewherido to UPU

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), the social-cultural umbrella body of all Urhobos worldwide has been advised to stay away from partisan politics and endorsement of candidates contesting elections. Mr. Francis Ewherido, a chartered insurance broker, and TheNewsGuru.com Columnist gave the advice to UPU in a chat with TNG.

    He was speaking as a result of the news that the UPU leadership led by Okakuro Ese Gam has endorsed some candidates on behalf of the Urhobo Nation for the upcoming elections.

    “In 2015, UPU endorsed Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, but President Muhammadu Buhari won. I felt very awkward when I went to Aso Rock as part to the delegation of the UPU under a new leadership of Olorogun Moses Taiga, Urhobo traditional rulers and other prominent Urhobo sons and daughters to congratulate Buhari and make some demands for the Urhobo Nation. Endorsement of candidates by UPU has always lowered the esteem of the body in the eyes of Urhobos and outsiders, why continue on  this path of self-destruction?

    “The most ridiculous is the endorsement of a governorship candidate. All the leading candidates for the governorship election are Urhobos: Ovie Omo-Agege of APC, Sheriff Oborevwori of PDP, Great Ogboru of APGA, Kenneth Gbagi of SDP, Ken Pela of LP and others are prominent sons of Urhobo. Urhobos are also in all the parties contesting the election and UPU is an umbrella body of all Urhobos worldwide. The best UPU can do is to advise the candidates and their supporters to be peaceful and law-abiding. UPU is charting a path to irrelevance with its partisanship. It should retrace itself steps and not make the Urhobo nation a laughing stock, Ewherido concluded.

  • Urhobo Progress Union gets new leadership

    Urhobo Progress Union gets new leadership

    Chief Ese Owe has been elected as the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) along with executive members also elected into leadership positions of the Urhobo foremost sociocultural union.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Barr Isaacs Itebu was elected 1st Deputy President General, Chief Abel Opuidi was elected 2nd Deputy President General and Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi was elected 3rd Deputy President General.

    Similarly, Barr. David Esiekpe emerged as National Secretary, Chief Mrs. Okoh Eunice as National Treasurer, Chief Simeon Asite as National Financial Secretary, Chief Felibens Edeheri Okoro as National Assistant Secretary and Chief Luke Djebah as National Publicity Secretary.

    Also, Chief Oduaran Josephine was elected National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Chief Dr Samson Gordons Okomitie as National Assistant Financial secretary, Chief Barr. Omovie Emmanuel as National Legal Adviser, Barr. Andrew Ubido as National Assistant Legal Adviser and Chief Austine Atiti as National Auditor.

    Meanwhile, Delta State Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the newly elected executive of the UPU.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, the PDP Presidential running mate said that the election of the new executive was well-deserved and urged them to use their new positions to contribute to the growth and development of the Urhobo nation.

    He urged them to sustain their liaison with governments at all levels, the private sector and all stakeholders to ensure sustainable economic development of the people.

    He tasked the new UPU leadership to work assiduously and harmoniously with other ethnic nationalities to sustain peace and good neighbourliness in the state.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate Chief Ese Owe on his election as President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).

    “I also congratulate other elected members of the Executive Committee and the people of Urhobo nation worldwide, on the successful election that ushered in a new leadership.

    “I also use this opportunity to congratulate and thank the outgone executive led by Chief Moses Taiga for their immense contributions to the Urhobo nation and our dear State.

    “I urge the new executive to use their privileged positions to contribute their quota to the growth and development of Urhobo land.

    “As they embark on their three-year tenure, it is my prayer that God will grant them the wisdom and knowledge to lead the Urhobo people to greater glory,” the governor stated.

  • Ejiro is a true 21st century Urhobo hero, UPU hails daring driver who risked his life to save Deltans

    Olorogun (Dr.) Moses Oghenerume Taiga, JP, President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Worldwide, has hailed Mr. Ejiro Otarigho for his heroic act of averting an oil tanker tragedy in Urhoboland, describing him as a true Urhobo hero of the twenty-first century.

    In a statement, Olorogun Moses Taiga said Ejiro Otarigho demonstrated uncommon selflessness, sacrifice, and bravery by driving a blazing oil tanker that contained the substance away from a densely populated residential area in Agbarho Town, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State to a sparsely populated area to reduce the amount of damage it would create if it exploded.

    While also thanking God for the safety of lives in the incident, the UPU helmsman stated that “Otarigho’s sacrifice and courageous conduct is deeply appreciated by the UPU. We praise his insight to preserve humanity and rescue the lives and properties of thousands of Agbarho residents, as well as avert a massive oil fire tragedy in Urhobo territory.

    As terrifying as it is, Otarigho’s heroism is a statement of the character of his personality. Our wonderful son exemplified unusual selflessness by prioritizing others over his interests, safety, and even his young family, at great risk to his life. He is a true Urhobo hero of the twenty-first century and a real-life Superman,” the UPU President-General said.

    Taiga further said, “there are no words to express the depth of our thankfulness. His selflessness is something we admire. The Urhobo Nation will be eternally grateful to him for ensuring the safety of the Urhobo people and other Nigerians in the Agbarho Kingdom.

    “Posterity records Ejiro Otarigho’s gallantry, and it has a distinct and deserving position in Urhobo Nation, Delta State, Nigeria, and beyond in popular and traditional tales about valour and heroism. We salute him.”

  • “A Stitch In Time Saves Nine” – By Richard Iyede

    “A Stitch In Time Saves Nine” – By Richard Iyede

    By Dr Richard Tiki Iyede

    A compendium of controversies has trailed the decision of the Urhobo Progress Union’s (UPU) endorsement of Olorogun David Edebvie for the 2023 PDP Gubernatorial primaries. For information purposes, UPU is a non-profit, umbrella body and the mouthpiece of all Urhobo people around the globe which was established in 1931 under the auspices of Urhobo merchants, irredentists, and advocates in order to foster cooperation, unity, welfare, and protection of the Urhobo people’s shared values and traditions. UPU is the oldest socio-cultural union in Nigeria and second in Africa (second to the Africa National Congress of South Africa (ANC)) and has acted as a key stabilizer of the Niger Delta and Nigerian Federation. Therefore, due respect must be accorded to this vibrant, robust and highly respected ethnic organisation in Nigeria. I salute UPU for summoning such courage to make the right decision to save the Urhobo nation.

    I am profoundly perturbed and perplexed to read anthologies of published articles and numerous social media platforms sponsored by external and internal Urhobo enemies, which have been mainstreamed locally and globally; basically founded on delusion and deceit in an attempt to blackmail, rubbish and denigrate UPU. Those wisenheimers, political gladiators and jobbers involved in such calumny, cynicism and unwarranted derogatory statements towards UPU’s informed decision on Olorogun Edevbie should be condemned by all well-meaning Urhobo people.

    The decision of UPU to support Olorogun David Edevbie as the sole Urhobo PDP candidate is exceptional, irreproachable, clever and timely. It was a conscious decision to support one Urhobo candidate in order to mitigate the Urhobo nation from plunging into oblivion. So, we should be cautious about smear campaigns and focus more on constructive criticisms and avoid beating a sword into ploughshares. Candidly, the decision taken by UPU was not myopic but consulted various stakeholders: Urhobo Kings, UPU Presidents, Kingdoms’ President Generals, UPU registered branches, Urhobo political bigwigs and acumen, Urhobo business tycoons and industrialists, Urhobo youths, women, associations and other Urhobo personalities in the world, including the governorship aspirants. In addition, UPU realised that a bulk of the Urhobo Governorship aspirants are being sponsored by people outside the Urhobo nation in a desperate attempt to destabilise Urhobo block votes. It is laughable, regrettable and parochial that Olorogun David Edebvie’s endorsement by UPU is based on financial inducements, gratifications and nepotism. For clarification, Olorogun (Dr.) Moses Taiga, the President of UPU worldwide, is a billionaire with multiple functional companies across the globe and other signatories of the UPU decision are well-off individuals who are successful in their various endeavours.

    UPU’s choice is not politically motivated or influenced but holistically grounded on neutrality and aimed towards the unity and harmony of the Urhobo nation with the following key parameters as the fulcrum and guiding principles after due and rigorous assessment of all the Urhobo PDP aspirants:
     Experience
     Probity
     Qualification
     Competence
     Intellectual Capacity
     Exposure
     Popularity
     Civility
     Understanding the Delicacies of the Job
     Human and Resource Management
     Altruism and Humanitarianism
     Poised with Developmental Infrastructure/Industrialisation
     Penchant in Meritocracy, Impartiality and Fairness
     More Appealing/approachable to other Ethnic Groups in Delta State

    Fortunately, Olorogun David Edevbie ticks excellently in all the above criteria for assessments and UPU has no other alternative than to act decisively.

    Permit me to recap or chronicle Olorogun Edevbie’s career journey based on my little knowledge about his biodata that necessitated and justified the decision of UPU:

    Olorogun David Edevbie graduated from the University of Lagos as an Economist in 1985, and after Youth Corps, he proceeded to the United Kingdom for further studies. He schooled at the Cardiff Business School, the University of Wales, between 1987 and 1988, where he attained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in International Corporate Finance.

    Olorogun Edevbie worked in Barclays Bank Plc in London as a trainee immediately after his academic studies. Within a short time, he advanced through a series of qualifying programmes resulting in his admission to the Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers (England & Wales) in 1990. Concurrently, he became a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Due to his intellectual capability, he progressed rapidly to the position of Manager’s Assistant, Corporate lending.

    In pursuit of career advancement as a prospective young man, Olorogun Edevbie hooked up with Hill Samuel, a traditional U.K. Merchant Bank, as an Investment Banking Executive. He used his vast experience to optimise the processes that led to bottom-line savings. As a result of his proven financial managerial prowess, Olorogun Edevbie was moved to the Commercial Banking arm of the bank. He rose to the position of Manager, Corporate Recoveries Department. During this period, Olorogun David managed a whopping £60 million (N36 billion) portfolio of bad and non-performing loans, developing, implementing, and monitoring appropriate recovery strategies.

    In March 1995, he was engaged with Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), UK (now known as ACTIS) as an Investment Officer responsible for the Asia and Pacific Regions; he assisted in building their economies. In 1996, he was promoted to Deputy Country Head, CDC Philippines, and was responsible for setting up their office in Manila. In the same vein, he was in charge of developing new business opportunities and managed a portfolio of loans, quasi-equity and equity investments valued at about $200m (N95 billion). He represented CDC on the boards of several investee companies, such as power, telecommunications, and venture capital companies. A few years later, Olorogun Edevbie was promoted to investment manager after returning to CDC in London.

    As a result of his plethora of experience in multiple sectors, Olorogun Edevbie was convinced to return home and was appointed in June 1999 as Honourable Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning by the Governor to transpose his expertise into Delta State Government economic planning for efficiency. With a passion for improvement, Olorogun Edevbie re-engineered the finance and cash management systems, leading to the timely preparation and publication of the Delta State Governments Audited Accounts – the first State in the Country to do so. Similarly, he developed and implemented the government’s privatization policy and established the highly successful Delta State Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme and other States followed suit. At the end of their first tenure in 2003, David Edevbie attended the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program (AMP) to prepare himself for higher profile duties. On the fulfilment of the programme, David was reappointed as Commissioner of Finance and remained in office until November 2005.

    In 2006, Olorogun Edevbie was co-opted into PDP’s presidential campaign team as Director of Finance and Strategy by Governor Umaru Musa Yar’Adua due to his interpersonal and analytical skillset. In recognition of his significant and explicit role exhibited in the presidential campaign organisation, Olorogun Edevbie was appointed Principal Secretary to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Olorogun Edevbie also played a crucial role in developing and implementing several policy initiatives, including the Niger Delta Amnesty Program; the establishment of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC); the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta; the introduction of the Land Reform and Petroleum Industry Bills; dredging of the lower River Niger; National Railway development program; Civil Service and Electoral Reforms. Olorogun Edevbie remained in this role until President Yar’Adua’s death in April 2010.

    Following Olorogun Edevbie’s resignation as the Principal Secretary, he became the Principal Consultant at AvantGarde Financial Consultants, an indigenous consulting firm focused on providing world-class project finance advice and monitoring services. In September 2015, Olorogun Edevbie was reappointed as the Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Delta State and was later redeployed as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State from 2019 to 2021 until he was wooed by concerned Deltans to vie for the Delta State Gubernatorial position.

    A nation that believes in advancement cannot ignore the above startling and sterling accomplishments. A man with such dynamism and vibrancy with overwhelming charisma coupled with hands-on experience has enough capacity to manage the State’s economy and diversity. The fact remains that it is one aspirant that will be the PDP flagbearer.

    It is worthy to observe that the political scene so far has been peaceful. I sincerely appreciate all the Urhobo aspirants for their maturity, wisdom and humility during the current electioneering process irrespective of UPU endorsement. I want to appeal to the other Urhobo PDP candidates to shun resentment and seek a peaceful resolution of this issue instead of going to the contest to divide Urhobo votes. They should think ‘Urhobo First’ against personal aggrandisement. I also use this media to appeal to Dr Okowa and the other two Delta State Senatorial districts to respect the sanctitude and inalienability of the PDP rotational arrangement that has snowballed peaceful co-existence in Delta State. Any deviation from this gentleman’s agreement will lead to mutual distrust, surmounting and dismantling PDP political structures, and it will be a big challenge to rejig.

    In a nutshell, this is a clarion call to Urhobo people to be more united to fight against the evil forces trying to trample upon our existence as a nation. We must use our concerted efforts and synergies to explore all avenues to confront this evil machination against the Urhobo nation and to ensure that the next Governor is from Urhobo extraction. UPU appealed profusely to all the political parties in Delta State to field Urhobo person as sole candidate of their varied parties, not PDP alone. So why the condemnation? Politicians just took UPU decision on Olorugun Edevbie out of context.

    “The delegates who are my supporters, who believe in me for youths’ empowerment, women’s empowerment, education empowerment, viable infrastructures and less privileged upliftment – this is my wholehearted position.”

    ‘A Luta Continua’

    Long Live Urhobo Nation!
    Long Live Delta State!
    Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

     

    Chief (Dr.) Richard Tiki Iyede, the Ebe-Agwhare of Udu Kingdom, the Akpoteheri of Agbon Kingdom, the President of UPU Ireland and the President of Urhobo United Assembly.

    I come in peace and joy!!!

  • 2023: Urhobo Historical Society calls for caution not to rubbish UPU

    2023: Urhobo Historical Society calls for caution not to rubbish UPU

    The Urhobo Historical Society, UHS has cautioned that Urhobos should tread softly on the issue of the next governor of Delta State not to rubbish Urhobo Progress Union, UPU the umbrella body of all Urhobos.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement issued and signed by critical stakeholders of the society.

    The society hinged its position on the action of the UPU on the recent endorsement of a guber aspirant stating that:

    “If, however, by our actions or through the agency of the written word we decapitate the UPU, we, Urhobos all, shall be the losers, because we would have rendered prostrate the most important Urhobo organization. There is a choice to be made, and we should take care to choose wisely and make the correct call.

    “This, too, is true in the immediate choice which we as a people must make on the pending matter of the next Governor of Delta State. The Urhobo Historical Society has no preferred candidate for the office.

    ‘It insists only that all Urhobos must be careful and make certain that the man or woman who occupies that office at the conclusion of the electoral process is the Urhobo person best suited to faithfully discharge the duties of the office in genuine service of the citizens of the state. In our considered view, what remains now is for Urhobos, one and all, to come together, united in common purpose, and to act deliberately and with calculation to protect our interests.

    Read full statement below:

    THE URHOBO PEOPLE, THE URHOBO PROGRESS UNION
    AND THE 2023 ELECTION OF THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE
    The Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) has watched, with some degree of concern, the rather fractious debate which has ensued in the wake of the endorsement, by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), of a gubernatorial candidate in the pending primary election of the People’s Democratic Party in Delta State. In the several weeks since the UPU announced that endorsement, across many platforms, sons and daughters of Urhoboland, patriots one and all, have been engaged in a contentious debate on this action of the UPU.

    As the debate raged, seemingly complete with rebuttals and surrebuttals, there were calls for UHS to offer its views on the matter. But UHS chose not to do so; it chose instead to remain silent, until now, the better to allow passions to subside, in the hope that in time, invective will yield to reasoned arguments and considered judgments.

    UHS applauds the demonstrated commitment to the interests and the welfare of the Urhobo people, on the part of all who have been parties to this debate, but, as it does so, it is compelled to decry the unfortunate and unacceptable recourse to vituperation, calumny and incivility which were so often on daily display.

    If we, the people of Urhoboland, are to win the day in the many battles that await us, a firm sense of unity and common purpose, anchored to an abiding belief in reason as the most potent of our weapons, must be our guiding star. It is against this background that UHS has considered the substance of the communique issued by the Executive Committee of the UPU, on April 17, 2022, on the 2022 primary election of the PDP for the office of Governor of Delta State.

    It must be noted, in the first instance, that the Executive Committee DID NOT endorse a candidate for the Office of Governor of Delta State in that communique. Contrary to the claims in many of the public submissions on the matter, the UPU Executive did two things, and only two things in that communique.

    First, it announced its endorsement of a candidate in the PDP primary election for the office of Governor of Delta State, and Second, it announced its intention to repeat the exercise in the subsequent primaries of other political parties if the candidates who seek the nominations of those parties for the office of Governor of Delta State include sons or daughters of Urhoboland.

    Our expectation is that the Executive Committee will fully implement this plan by repeating this exercise in the pending primary elections of other political parties in which a son or daughter of Urhoboland is a candidate for the governorship of Delta State.

    These, we submit, were the central messages of that communique. As we read it, the animating reason which guided the Executive Committee in this action, was and remains the unyielding belief that the person elected to the Office of Governor of Delta State in 2023, MUST be a son or daughter of Urhoboland, combined with a defining commitment to ensuring the same. This singular goal of securing the election of an Urhobo son or daughter as the next governor of Delta State is fully shared by the Urhobo Historical Society.

    Fault could well be found with the process which the UPU Executive employed in arriving at its decision to endorse one of the aspirants for the PDP nomination. Multiple avenues were available to it as it sought to endorse the Urhobo candidate who, in its judgment, could best fulfill the duties of the office. The choice of which of these avenues to take and the process to employ was the Executive Committee’s to make.

    While UHS or any other group might well have chosen a different avenue and/or a different process, that mere fact, standing alone, does not make the choice of the UPU Executive in this instance suspect or invalid. We must allow our leaders (working hard and selflessly on our behalf) some room to act on what they reasonably consider to be in our collective best interest.

    Even where we disagree with a decision or with the process which was used in arriving at that decision, we must never allow the ideal to be an enemy of the good. No individual or group is blessed with a monopoly of the truth. It behooves us, therefore, to apply modesty in the sweep of our pronouncements and in our conduct in the public square.

    Those among our ancestors who had the ability to look straight and around the bend, saw the need for an organizing institution which could serve the collective interests of all Urhobos, and they worked hard to secure and advance those interests for themselves and for their progeny.

    Over ninety years ago, in a demonstration of prescience that time has revealed to be truly remarkable, they founded what is today the Urhobo Progress Union. Because, in the end, organizations are populated and administered by the persons who belong in them, the foibles of the humans who constitute the Urhobo Progress Union have made for some difficulties in our lives as Urhobos and in the stewardship of the UPU.

    But, fortunately, thanks to the fortitude of and the fierce commitment of many of our compatriots, the UPU has weathered many of the storms with which it has had to contend over these ninety years, and has, at every such turn, found a safe harbour.

    There will surely be many more trials in the years ahead, but if all of us, the daughters and sons of Urhoboland, commit ourselves to improving the UPU, saluting it when it is in the right, and offering constructive criticism, devoid of public rancor, when it errs or loses its way, the result is likely to be a better and stronger UPU, fully engaged in the service of the Urhobo people as it does battle for us in the offices and in the corridors of power in the extant rendition of the Republic of Nigeria.

    If, however, by our actions or through the agency of the written word we decapitate the UPU, we, Urhobos all, shall be the losers, because we would have rendered prostrate the most important Urhobo organization. There is a choice to be made, and we should take care to choose wisely and make the correct call.

    This, too, is true in the immediate choice which we as a people must make on the pending matter of the next Governor of Delta State. The Urhobo Historical Society has no preferred candidate for the office. It insists only that all Urhobos must be careful and make certain that the man or woman who occupies that office at the conclusion of the electoral process is the Urhobo person best suited to faithfully discharge the duties of the office in genuine service of the citizens of the state.

    In our considered view, what remains now is for Urhobos, one and all, to come together, united in common purpose, and to act deliberately and with calculation to protect our interests. A state of affairs in which contending personalities remain unmindful of the political realities and the dangers that we face as a people in the brutal political space that is the Republic of Nigeria, and in which they see politics in Urhoboland as a war between and among enemies, will ill serve us. In the circumstances, it is our considered view that if we as a people are to be protected, made safe and our future secured, we urgently need irenic men and women across Urhoboland who, with peace secured at home, can lead us in our struggles in the larger society where the real battle must be joined.

    It is, therefore, the fervent hope of the Urhobo Historical Society that as we contemplate these matters and choose a way forward, we will be guided by the seminal words of Chief Mukoro Mowoe who once so admonished his beloved Urhobo. My belief is that every being born into this world has a duty to perform for his people, either at the village, town or country …. Frankly speaking, any one of you (Urhobo people) who should fail to play his or her part for the uplift of our dear tribe, it would be better that she or he had not been born. If, as Urhobos, we adopt the words of the Chief as our North Star, we might just succeed against the travails we now face. At a minimum, we would have given our full measure, and that would be excellent. Anything less would be a grand betrayal of our ancestors and our progeny for which, we fear, they would never, ever forgive us, and justifiably so.

    We thank you, one and all, and we wish you the very best as we work together for our common good.

    All best wishes,

    Dr. Aruegodore Oyiborhoro, Dr. Isaac O. James Mowoe
    President Vice President

    Engr. Andrew Edevbie Dr. Emmanuel Ojameruaye Secretary Treasurer

  • David Edevbie as UPU choice for Governor – By Obaro Ikibe

    David Edevbie as UPU choice for Governor – By Obaro Ikibe

    By Sir Obaro Ikibe

    When a man driven by passion and impeccable commitment to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people steps into the foray of politics, he sends jittery into the spines of mediocres and joy into the hearts of the people. Though some political renegades may devise devilish means to discredit his visions and missions to the service of the people, the people not only pray and support his ambition, they stick their neck to see that such ambitions are realised. I dare say that since Olorogun David Edevbie heeded the call by well-intentioned Deltans to contest for the Governorship position of Delta State in the forthcoming elections, some political camps in the state with desperate ambitions have not been comfortable. They are not only frightened by his towering and intimidating pedigree in public service but afraid of the overwhelming supports he has got from the length and breadth of the state.

    The recent public endorsement of Olorogun David Edevbie as the CHOICE of the Urhobo in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) by the UPU, the oldest socio-cultural organisation in Africa is a further testimony to his general acceptance by the entire Urhobo nation. Since the PDP governorship primary is not an exclusive Urhobo affair, UPU has by this move demonstrated that there is the need for the Urhobo people to produce a unified candidate in the forthcoming governorship elections in the state. This move is borne out of the genuine desire to put Urhobo in a strong standing to contest and win the PDP ticket at the primaries. This is not the time for the Urhobo to play into the hands of those who do not wish them well. How does one explain the Urhobos going into a party primary with over ten aspirants against another ethnic group projecting just three?

    However, instead of applause and commendation to the UPU heroic move, we read with both constellation and disgust some of the negative commentaries trailing the heroic endorsement of Chief David Edevbie by the UPU in both the social and print media. The bizarre of them all is the outlandish display of ‘low-self-esteem’ by the eight LGA chairmen of Delta Central who, acting on an orchestrated script by Okowa, danced naked under the rain. I bet you, by this move, others would be watching the Urhobos with an enthusiastic curiosity.

    What UPU has done is to show a direction for the Urhobo in the face of obvious disequilibrium among the political players from Delta Central. With the plethora of aspirants from Delta Central, many of whom are sponsored by Okowa to cause disunity among the Urhobos, the Urhobos must device a means to avoid disgrace at the PDP primaries. At the last count, ten aspirants from Delta Central have bought forms for the governorship race and three from Delta South. Should they go to the primaries with this number, the Urhobos would have unknowingly perfected Okowa’s hidden agenda to handover the PDP ticket to an Ijaw candidate with Mrs Joan Oyemechi Mrakpor as deputy to spite the Urhobos.

    The precarious position the Urhobo currently find themselves in Delta State is the selfish and unpatriotic anglings of the Urhobo political class. In this current political quagmire where the politicians no longer think of the Urhobo collective aspiration but self-interest what has the political class done to reduce the numbers of aspirants to present a strong and united front at the forthcoming primaries? If the political class have failed in this regard shouldn’t the UPU, the umbrella body of the entire Urhobo worldwide steps into the arena to create equilibrium? How can one entrust the Urhobo destiny to an Urhobo political class who eat today that tomorrow may die? A political class that has stooped so low because of party politics to say: “anywhere Okowa go, we go!”

    Besides, none of the media comments that trailed the UPU endorsement of Chief David Edevbie ever said anything about his capacity and visions for the overall development of Delta State and compare same with other Urhobo aspirants. It should be well stated here that of all the Urhobo aspirants who went through the DC-23screening which pruned down the aspirants to three and finally the UPU screening that settled on Olorogun David Edevbie, there is none more qualified than him. UPU should therefore be commended for being meticulous. Olorogun David Edevbie is a man with integrity, a young Urhobo patriot who has got the political endorsement of the entire citizens of Delta state to contest for the governorship post of the state. His track records as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Panning in the Ibori administration and as Principal Secretary to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and as Commissioner for Finance and Chief of Staff to Governor Okowa are there for all to see. Emu oyoyovwi shẹ oma rọye (Good product advertises itself) an Urhobo proverb says. If for nothing, the Amnesty Programme and the Ministry of Niger Delta which he initiated in the Yar’Adua’s administration are enough for the entire Urhobo nation and indeed Deltans to support his ambition to govern the state. It should be well sounded here that no matter the tactics of some irresponsible Urhobo political opportunists to drag him down, the desire of the people of Delta state to choose a leader who will re-invent and advance their collective aspirations cannot be trampled upon.

    Moreover, the belief that the person who will become the governor of Delta state in the 2023 election will be determined solely by the incumbent governor alone is erroneous. The role of the people in choosing their leaders should not be downplayed. The people of Delta state are in dire need of a detribalise leader, one who has the plight of the people at heart, one who will use power in a manner that it brings happiness to the populace, one with a vision to build on the legacy of his predecessors and one with efficient organisational skills and positive attitudes towards the upliftment of the standard of living of the people. This is therefore a clarion call to all delegates to put Delta first in their choice for a governorship candidate in the forthcoming primaries.

    Sir Obaro Ikibe, writes from Ughelli