LAGOS OCTOBER 29TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The October 1, 2013 announcement of procedures for a national dialogue/conference by President Goodluck Jonathan has set the ball rolling for all ethno-social groupings to begin to articulate sectional positions; and Urhobo professionals, under the aegis of the Atamu Social Club has also joined the fray.
The group said it has concluded arrangements to mobilise leaders and scholars for a conference that would discuss the unity, progress and development of the Urhobo people.
Chaired by Professor Sam Oyovbaire, the mini dialogue, according to a statement issued by the group, will hold at the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, on Saturday, November 2.
Dr. Sunny Awhefeada, Prof. Rose Aziza, all of the Delta State University and Prof. Ben Oghojafor of the University of Lagos will speak during the conference.
President of the group, Mr. Johnson Agagbo, said the decision to hold the conference was inspired by the need to make the Urhobo people proactive in tackling the challenges confronting them, even as he noted that it would be part of the major projects his administration had pledged to pursue in the bid to reposition the Urhobo nation and ensure growth and development of the Urhobo people.
The proposed conference is tagged: “Urhobo: This House Must Not Fall.”
Meanwhile, chairman of the organising committee of the conference, Abraham Ogbodo said the event could not have come at a better time, considering the fact that ethnic nationalities in the country were getting ready to discuss the terms of their continued coexistence.
The Urhobo nation, Ogbodo insisted, must seize the opportunity created by the conference to articulate their views and take a definite stand on the affairs of the country.
According to him, the conference was part of a series of projects embarked upon by Atamu to build consensus and give Urhobo a common voice on issues affecting them in the social, political and economic spheres of life.
The Urhobo, Ogbodo stressed, must not go to the National Conference being planned by the Federal Government as a divided house if they wish to be accorded their place in the administration of the country.
He assured that all arrangements have been made to make the conference a huge success.
Source: Guardian