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Urhobo Historical Society |
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Sunday, August 09, 2009
By Abraham Ogbodo
Deputy Political Editor, Guardian Newspapers
For two days, between July 30 and 31, key segments of the Urhobo
nation made propositions amid oppositions at a summit to discuss
common issues, but managed in the end to arrive on a common ground.
They accepted the urgency to bridge all dividing gaps and move the
Urhobo people to a more competitive level in the contest for rights
and privileges in the Nigerian Federation. DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR,
ABRAHAM OGBODO who was at the Urhobo Unity
THE beauty is that there is something to look up to for a clear
direction in the renewed search for unity among the Urhobo. Everybody
agrees that the founding fathers -- and these include, Chiefs Mukoro
Mowoe, Thompson Salubi and Jereton Mariere - who did not have the
benefit of sound western education and large scale exposure that
today's leaders enjoy, did so well to define the parameters. And
decades after they had played and vacated the stage, the subsisting
generation is still struggling to add new things and raise the bar.
Not too much has been achieved largely because the later drivers
changed gear and lost the momentum that made things to happen under
the old brigade. Specifically, the unity and exceptional spirit of
patriotism that fired Chief Mowoe and his contemporaries even beyond
the limit of their own dreams, resulting in such great feats as the
founding of
At some point actually, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), which is the
official organ for the articulation of Urhobo interest within the
larger socio-political contexts, was defined more by its inaction than
otherwise. After a fairly turbulent transition scheme that saw the
union leadership shifting from Dr Esiri to Chief James Edewor and to
General David Ejoor (rtd) in quick succession, Chief Benjamin Okumagba
was elected president-general in 1999. He was understandably taken in
by an obsession to give the UPU some bite. And under him, the UPU did
come around to earn its name and place.
But in the hard restoration drive under Okumagba, who is now the
Oruosue (king) of
In fact, while the delegate conference that culminated in the
election of Senator Felix Ibru as president-general of the UPU was
going on at the conference hall of the Petroleum Training Centre
(PTI), Effurun, a parallel exercise was afloat at the palace of the
Orodje of Okpe in Orereokpe, with most of the 23 kings in Urhobo land
in attendance, to elect General John Obada, former federal
commissioner for works, also as president-general of the UPU. In the
end however, Ibru triumphed.
This was the background and Senator Ibru who also loves to be
addressed as Ambassador of Peace was immediately taken to task. He
understood, even on day one, that the work of rebuilding the crumbling
Urhobo house was enormous. While accepting his election as the new
president-general, he had noted that his tenure would only be
meaningful if all hands came on deck with him and the hitherto
proposing and opposing voices fused into one strong call for the good
of Urhobo land. He said he should be treated as a willing messenger
and that those who had put him on course should not turn around to
cause rain to impede his speed and capacity to deliver.
And for about one and half years, Senator Ibru had characteristically
operated behind the scene to mend broken fences. For instance, he has
been able to bring back the Ivies (kings) who had suspended their
participation in UPU activities in the heat of the propositions and
counter propositions that drove the union in multi directions. The
last Urhobo National Day celebration in December 2008 drew the full
compliments of the kings including that of Mosogar which had just been
adopted as the 23rd
This was the first dependable sign that the UPU under Ibru would be
able to reconcile the rowdy Urhobo house and make all the family
members work together again. In other words, the two-day (between July
30 and 31) Urhobo Unity Summit, which was first of its kind, since
1931 when the UPU was founded, was actually to show case what had been
quietly achieved backstage. And it turned out a very good show. The
Organising Committee headed by Deacon Gamaliel Onosode even went
beyond the core content to make it a mini summit of all the ethnic
nationalities in the Western Delta.
Days before the d-day, an implementation committee comprising former
communication minister, General Patrick Aziza as chairman, Olorogun
Moses Taiga, Elder john Onojakpor, Chief Young Abenobe among others
met for long hours at the resident of Senator Ibru in Ughelli to cross
the Ts and dot the Is. There was apprehension even when General Aziza,
also the First Deputy President-general of the UPU had assured that
things were in their proper places and that he was in "full control of
my artillery and there will not be cross fire."
All was, indeed in place for the opening ceremony. Two time governor
of old
Chief E.K Clark sent in a sweet message on behalf of the Ijaw ethnic
nationality. He said the UPU, which has always remained a rally point
for all Urhobo people should be strengthened so that it would continue
to play effectively that role in the times ahead. He lamented the
non-committal attitude of the younger generation whom, he said were
always driven by personal considerations and advised Senator Ibru to
use "this important occasion to appeal to all our politicians, young
and old, to return to the path of honour and give the Urhobo nation,
the pride of place in
Other ethnic neighbours of Urhobo namely, Isoko, Itsekiri and Udokwa,
which was represented by Prof B.I.C Ijomah, agreed that a united
Urhobo would mean well for all the ethnic groups in the Western Delta.
Elder Peter Erebi president-general of Isoko Development Union
acknowledged "the Urhobos as our big brothers who should lead the path
for us to follow." Amb. Ralph Uwechue, the president-general of
Ohaeneze Ndigbo said the "Urhobos are on their way to teaching this
very divided country a few useful lessons on unity."
Provision was also made for representatives of other major ethnic
groups who were invited but could not attend the Urhobo summit. On the
bill were Gen, I.B.M Haruna, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Olu
Falae, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Isaac Jemide.
The welcome address by Senator Ibru had struck the right chord. He
painstakingly traced a network of relationships and interdependence
between the Urhobo and the Binis, Itsekiris, Ijaws, Ukwuani and the
Isokos.. It was a small piece of history that gave illuminating
insights into the shared aspirations and affinities between the
Urhobos and their immediate neighbours.
His predecessor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, himself an Urhobo man,
confessed that the choice of Senator Ibru was well made in spite of
initial misgivings about the electoral process that produced him as
the UPU president-general. "He (Ibru) has proved to all of us that he
is indeed an ambassador of peace and a bridge builder" Ibori said.
After the opening ceremony, the summit broke into business sessions
where hard presentations and arguments on the way forward for Urhobo
land were made. Professor Sam Ibodje of the Political Science
Department of the
In the end, a five-page communique was hammered out to articulate the
issues raised. The main points are that the summit resolves to
strengthen the existing cordial relationships between the Urhobo
people and their ethnic neighbours; to reposition the UPU and insulate
it from partisanship for it to be able to contain the challenges
ahead; to put in place machinery for the revitalization of Urhobo
language and save it from extinction; to oppose the relocation of the
Petroleum University and the PTI from Effurun to any other part of the
country and to set up a committee that will work out modalities for
the establishment of Urhobo Unversity. It is also part of the
resolutions to oppose the Petroleum Industry Bill; to set up a
machinery for the creation of Urhobo State; to work towards the
eradication of electoral malpractices and to reach out to all those
who were aggrieved by the events of the 2007 general elections in the
spirit of true reconciliation.
It is a new template that requires a new tempo. Senator Ibru knows
this. He told The Guardian after the summit that "the good
thing is that we were able to sit, discuss and agree on key points"
stressing, "what remains is the commitment on the part of all of us to
follow up effectively."
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