LAGOS JANUARY 14TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Mohammadu Buhari has enjoined the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union,( UPU) to stand by the spirit of the Uvwiamuge’s Declarations, which promised to support any party that present an Urhobo’s son as Delta State Governorship candidate.
Buhari who vow to correct and redress the marginalization of Urhobos by the President Jonathan led Federal Government if he is elected as President of Nigeria, said during a consultation visit to the leadership of UPU, at Mosogar the country home of the UPU President General, Chief Omene enjoined Urhobos to vote massively for all APC candidates in Delta State.
Giving reasons why Urhobo must abide by Uvwiamuge Declaration he said, “Uvwiamuge declaration has two major aspects; The Urhobo will for a National Party, that has an Urhobo son as the Governorship candidate. The Urhobo will not to vote for any mushroom party that has no National spread.
“On this score, the PDP, the other national party failed the Urhobos. Only the APC gave its Governorship ticket to your son, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor. I have therefore come to urge you to stand by your words as a mark of honour and support your son, my party, APC and myself, the Presidential candidate of the APC with your estimated one million votes.”
While noting that the President Goodluck Jonathan led government has not treated the Urhobo Nation well by giving to her what is due to the Urhobo people considering the fact of the demographic and strategic position in the country, Gen. Buhari promised to address this imbalance and ill-treatment of the Urhobo nation by the PDP government.
He said: “I am aware of the marginalization of the Urhobo Nation by the Federal Government and your several requests to the Jonathan Administration by the Late Gen. Patrick Aziza, during the UPU visit on 30th July, 2013 and by the current leadership headed by you, Chief Joe Omene. These requests have not been fulfilled despite the assurance by the PDP led administration.”
He also urged the Urhobos to put the Niger Delta sentiment aside, as it has not paid off and put its interest first because politics is a game of interest.
“I know President Jonathan is a Niger Delta son, but this is not time for sentiments, Urhobo nation must think of her interest first and the interest of the nation. President Jonathan has not done well to you in spite of your previous support.
“If you vote me and your son, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor into power in line with the Uvwiamuge declaration, I will address the request and correct the marginalisation’s of the Urhobo nation.
“It is my commitment that my government will treat the Urhobo nation fairly and they will get what they deserve in line with their electoral values and economic contributions to our great country, Nigeria.”
Speaking further, he stressed that he will also address the issue of the near zero appointment of the Urhobos at the Federal level, almost total exclusion from federal matters, high youth unemployment in Urhobo land due to lack of federal projects and institutions.
He also bemoaned the underfunding of the Federal University of Petroleum Effurun, the exclusion of Urhobo youth from amnesty and pipeline surveillance job and the closure of Delta Steel Company, Nigeria salt company, Ogharefe amongst others, noting that he will reactivate these companies if elected as president to create jobs for the teaming unemployed Urhobo youths.
In his remark, the UPU President General, Chief Joe Omene prayed for General Buhari, saying that the APC presidential candidate will succeed in the forthcoming elections.
The Urhobo leader who assembled his people to welcome General Buhari told the august visitors that the political tide in Delta state and Nigeria is changing, such that it is extremely difficult for any political astrologer to correctly predict which party will win the elections any time this year.
Source: ADVOCATE