OKPE UNION SAYS WE WON’T RE-ELECT NON-PERFORMING POLITICIANS

The Okpe Union at the weekend called on politicians and persons who have been given the opportunity to occupy various political leadership positions all over the country to remember that their primary responsibility is to ensure the welfare of the citizens and stability of the Nigerian polity.

The Union also urged elected government officials to face their roles squarely rather than being distracted or fixated on the next round of elections.

The position of the Okpe Union on the state of the Nigerian Nation was presented to the press by the President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe.

‘’There is no basis for the electorate to consider re-electing incumbents who do not deliver on the promises they have made to their constituents which constitute a social contract. It is with good governance which in turn translates to the improved well-being of the people that increases the confidence the people would have in the democratic process which we must acknowledge, has not been very high amongst the people of Nigeria in recent times.

The Union advised the National Assembly not to wait until close to the next General Elections before embarking on whatever electoral reforms for the polity.

‘’ In time past, whenever the tinkering of the Electoral Act is delayed and brought too close to another round of General Elections, political interests have created tensions which influence the review and amendment processes that the outcomes usually do not reflect the desire of the electorate for a template that ensures credibility of the Electoral Process’’

The Union further counseled the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work in synergy to ensure a timeous review of our Electoral Laws and regulations to ensure that the votes of Nigerians in all parts of the country truly count.

OKPE UNION LISTS ACHIEVEMENTS

The Okpe Union on Friday emphasized its roles in revolutionizing Okpe Kingdom and uplifting the lot of the people.

‘Notwithstanding the destabilization policy by His Royal Majesty, Orhue l and the renegades since 2021, we have made significant progress in the execution of numerous projects. We have brought to the forefront a positive profile of the Okpe ethnic nationality in several fora in Nigeria. We have reestablished the autonomy of the Okpe Union by securing the landmark Judgement and Ruling of the Federal High Court, Lagos and the Federal High Court, Abuja, respectively. We contributed financially and morally to the success of the Okpe Cultural Day events of the National Association of Okpe Students in various Higher Institutions. We sponsored and secured a number of jobs for nine deserving Okpe Youths’’.

At a world press conference in Lagos, President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe, said the Okpe Union featured in national and local discourse which has enabled the Okpe Nation to be respected in the comity of ethnic nationalities.

‘’We submitted proposed projects and presented administrative advice to all levels of Government since the last General Elections in the country and Delta State during the tenure. We ensured the celebration of worthy heroes of the Okpe Union and the Okpe Nation as exemplified, in particular, in the burial ceremony of the Late Okpe hero, Rev. Dr. Charles E. Osume of Mereje, who contributed in no small measure to Okpe consciousness and identity in his written works, and actions while he was alive’’.

The union complained about the educational deficits of Okpe nationals in national and foreign educational institutions.

‘’Frequently referred to as the largest mono-ethnic nationality in Delta State, it is however regrettable that Okpe is arguably the less educated ethnic nationality in Delta State. Okpe Union shall continue to explore ways and means to curtail the educational deficits of Okpe nationals, in national and foreign educational institutions.

The Union vowed to strive for a stronger Okpe Nation through the teaching of Okpe Language in all primary and post primary educational institutions in Okpe Nation including the privately owned schools

‘’The use of Okpe Language in all places of worship in Okpe Nation shall be encouraged. The union will attract investments to the Okpe Nation, liaise with local, state and federal governments for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality so that the shortchanging of the Okpe Nation in DESOPADEC/NDDC Projects, Bursary Slots etc, would be a thing of the past and organize empowerment programmes for Okpe youths and women’’.

The Union also promised to foster collaboration and cooperation in Okpe Nation.

‘’It is our hope that all stakeholders of the Okpe Nation shall realize that the Okpe Union means well with all these viewpoints and projections. The Unity of Okpe can enable her to overcome many of the seemingly difficult issues. With an open mind, the Newly Sworn National Executive Council which I am once again privileged to head for the next four years promises to foster collaboration and cooperation in the Okpe Nation’’.

 

ORODJE UNDER FIRE OVER OKPE UNION

The Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1, on Friday drew flak from Okpe Union leaders who described his Urhobo agenda as a betrayal of the Okpe Nation.

‘’There are two contending trends in contemporary Okpe polity. Okpe Union represents the first trend that agitates for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality and not a sub-group of any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria. The second trend, currently championed by HRM Orhue l (after he opted to abandon his earlier position), regards Okpe as Urhobo.

The President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe commented on the contending trends in Okpe polity during the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Okpe Union.

‘’This is a reflection of the current position of HRM Orhue l, which, for selfish reasons reverted to the British colonial policy that classified “Okpe as Urhobo”, in order to secure the support of the Urhobos in his aspiration to be the Chairman of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council’’.

The Union took a swipe at Orhue 1, accusing him of working against the campaign of Okpe as a distinct ethnic group.

‘’While we are here today in Okpe House, Obalende, Lagos, the officially recognized Registered Office and headquarters of the Okpe Union, celebrating the 95th Anniversary Celebrations of the Okpe Union, a pack of renegades are said to be in Udogun Hall, the Palace of Okpe Kingdom, claiming to be celebrating the 95th Anniversary of the Okpe Union, but are in reality, according to their own posters, celebrating Okpe as “the largest Urhobo Ethnic Nationality”.

The Union recollected an encounter of the Arc. Ralph Karieren-led National Executive Council of the Okpe Union in 2010 with His Royal Majesty where Orhue 1 wanted the Union to retract a statement published by the Okpe Union that Okpe was a distinct Ethnic Nationality.

‘’The union then had published that position so as to prepare the ground for a demand for the Delta State Government to recognize Okpe as a distinct Ethnic Nationality under the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). But that dream was truncated as HRM Orhue I got the then Unu Okpe to sign a counter publication in the Vanguard Newspapers to the effect that Okpe was Urhobo. To put it bluntly, this position is a betrayal of Okpe Identity and a betrayal of the Okpe Nation’’.

The Okpe Union vowed to continue its advocacy of Okpe Identity, irrespective of the internal and external hostile forces.

‘’We count on the resilience and steadfastness of our members across the several branches in Nigeria and in the Diaspora as well as various Okpe groups which identify with the struggle for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct Ethnic Nationality and language. The panic that enveloped the Palace in the past couple of days regarding the listing of our Keynote Speaker demonstrates the hollowness of the renegades’’.

GLOBAL UNION NARRATES HOW FOUNDING FATHERS RESTORED OKPE MONARCHY

· LAUDS AKE, ERO, EDEGHE, OGODO, OTHERS FOR CREATING PARADIGM SHIFT IN ETHNIC ENGAGEMENT IN NIGERIA.

Founding Fathers of the Okpe Union were at the weekend praised for contributing immensely to the development of Nigeria and donating several years of their youth to the service of the Okpe Nation.

‘’Exactly 95 years ago, a group of young Okpe nationals, mostly cooks and stewards here in Lagos, had the consciousness to found the Okpe Union as the mouthpiece of the Okpe ethnic nationality’’

The Okpe Union at its 95th Anniversary applauded Thomas Ake, M. A. Ero, Chief Edeghhe and J. K. Ogodo for inspiring Okpe people and creating a paradigm shift in ethnic engagement in Nigeria.

‘’We are gathered here today, at the same spot and on the same day of the Founding of Okpe Union. The young Okpe nationals who bequeathed us Okpe Union had the vision to establish a vehicle for the articulation, promotion and defense of Okpe national interests in a multi-ethnic Nigerian mosaic. We are proud to be the beneficiaries of the trust placed on our shoulders to be the mouthpiece of the Okpe Nation’’

In a statement issued by the Okpe Union President General (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe, the Union lauded the leadership qualities of Uweriavwe Ake, J. U. Igberiewe of Okuokpokpor, E. Uwerhievwe and J. E. Ewhiewhie

 

Particularly, the statement praised the Okpe Union Founding Fathers for the restoration of the Okpe monarchy.

‘’Following the assassination of HRM Esezi l in 1779 (reign: 1770-1779), Okpe Nation experienced an interregnum for 166 years before a new monarch was crowned on January 1, 1945, thanks to the Okpe Union. It is instructive to note that, there were then several Okpe leaders who voiced serious trepidation about the restoration of the Okpe monarchy, fearing that it could lead to another dictatorship like the reign of Esezi l. It was only after this trepidation was addressed in 1942 that the leaders of Okpe Union continued with their advocacy for the restoration of the Okpe monarchy.

The Union listed His Royal Majesty, Esezi ll, (1945-1966), His Royal Majesty Orhorho l, (1972-2004) and His Royal Majesty, Orhue l (since 2006) as the three occupants of the throne.

‘’While the reigns of HRM Esezi ll and HRM Orhorho l ushered in a period of democratic development, peace and harmony in their relationships with Okpe Union, the reign of HRM Orhue l has been drifting systematically towards the dictatorship like that of HRM Esezi l’’.