LAGOS JULY 28TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The National Executive Council (EXCO), Board of Trustees (BOT) and members of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) United Kingdom Chapter have rejected in its entirety the various and recent proclamations by President-General of Urhobo Progress Union(UPU) Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga at a meeting he held in London on the 21st of July 2019.
The Executive Council of UPU-UK Chapter in a statement signed by its National Secretary Olorogun Ted Ochuko Arayki and Publicity Secretary Deacon Darosha Saseri made available to Urhobo Urhobotoday.com argued that Moses Taiga erred according to UPU-United Kingdom Chapter bye-laws by unilateral dissolution with immediate effect of UPU- UK National Executive Council headed by Olorogun (Barrister) Emmanuel Okpako Ganiga, contrary to Article 6(a) which states that all officers ‘shall hold office for three years and 6(d)(1) officer shall hold the office until a successor takes the oath of that office.’
They insisted that the unilateral suspension of UPU UK By-laws with immediate effect by Moses Taiga is contrary to the preamble section that states that “This Bye-law shall be the GROUNDNUM, the basic rule book, guiding the activities of the union in the United Kingdom. Any other guidelines or rules, however named of this union and any other associated with it, or incorporated by this union, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution shall be null and void. This Bye-law shall remain in force and shall not be repealed en-bloc, but shall be amended in accordance with the guidelines set out herein. By the suspension the Bye law can longer remain in force which is also contrary to Article 31 of UPU UK Bye-laws.”
They further averred that the inauguration of a caretaker committee with immediate effect by Moses Taiga is contrary to Article 6(d) (1) and 9(A) (1) as stated , “There is no provision of a caretaker committee in the headquarters’ constitution and a recent case is Chief Ofotoku vs Chief Omene, and therefore UPU UK Bye-laws do not also provide for a caretaker committee but rather a smooth transition of power.
“Furthermore, Article 32 of UPU UK Bye-laws states that ‘…The Urhobo Progressive Union UK shall not dissolve itself’.
“Thus, the Inauguration of Electoral committee with immediate effect to conduct UPU- UK General Elections is contrary to Article 5 (3) of UPU UK Bye-laws…”
They accused Moses Taiga of setting up an illegal Electoral Committee comprising of non UPU-UK members, for the purpose of conducting an election for UPU -UK members which is contrary to Article 5(3) of the unions Bye-law which states that, “The National President in consultation with the National Executive Council and General House shall constitute an ad hoc Electoral Committee of 5 members with a chairman and secretary only for the conduct of the election at least four months before the expiration of tenure of officers of the union or three months before the date of the election”
But, according to the statemnt, Moses Taiga went on to provide a date for the said elections to take place, which is contrary to the provisions of Article 32(2) of the Bye-laws that states “…an Election date shall be fixed at a general meeting of the union at least four months to the expiration of the tenure of officers of the union”.
They pointed out that the aforementioned actions of Moses Taiga are not permitted in his duties as President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (Wordwide) under Article 10(1-12) of the Headquarters’ constitution nor UPU UK Bye-laws and is therefore, ULTRA VIRES (acting outside his powers) and is illegal and consequently NULL / VOID and of no effect.
The group maintained that Urhobo Progress Union-United Kingdom chapter as a branch is a legally constituted body that is registered under the laws of the United Kingdom and as such, no one individual can unilaterally dissolve it by a DECREE.
“In this circumstance, we call on the Olorogun Moses Taiga to advise his illegal caretaker committee through Chief Phillips Emagbetere and the head of the Electoral committee Chief Godwin Ogholo to refrain from acting on his proclamations.
“In the same vain the committees headed by Chief Phillip Emagbetere and Chief Godwin Ogholo are advised from parading themselves as officials of UPU UK.
“We believe the PG was misled by those who had hijacked his activities upon his arrival in United Kingdom from the UPU-UK branch for selfish interest. We also believe that if the PG had consulted with his legal team in his National Executive Council in Nigeria, he may have acted differently and in good faith.
“ UPU-UK is a properly constituted and registered body in the United Kingdom, and is therefore protected by the laws of the United Kingdom. We believe again that the PG was misinformed by a few individuals who have little or no background of the United Kingdom laws and equally failed to consult on same.
“We hope this matter can still be properly managed without recourse to the court.
“In conclusion therefore it is our sincere hope that from the foregoing, the PG may wish to review his proclamations and look for an alternative resolution mechanism such as full involvement of parties to the dispute themselves rather than an imposed caretaker and electoral committees,” the statement advised.

BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT…..

UPU UK PRESS RELEASE

RESPONSE TO THE PROCLAMATIONS BY OLOROGUN MOSES TAIGA (PG)
ON THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OF UPU UK BRANCH.

1. The National Executive Council (EXCO), Board of Trustees (BOT) and members of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) United Kingdom rejects in its entirety the various and recent proclamations by Olorogun Moses Taiga (President General) at a meeting he held in London on the 21st of July 2019.
2. As you may be aware, Olorogun Moses Taiga (PG) arrived United Kingdom unannounced whilst the National president of UPU UK Olorogun (Barrister) Emmanuel Okpako Ganiga was out of the United Kingdom away on a short vacation and held a meeting of heads of clans on Friday 19th of July 2019 at the All Saints Community Church, New Cross London. The venue for this meeting we understand was arranged prior to the PG’s arrival by one Chief Phillip Emagbetere who is not a member of UPU UK, had arranged this meeting without the knowledge of UPU UK branch EXCO contrary to Article 10(3) of UPU headquarters’ constitution. Majority of the heads of clan are neither UPU UK members nor representatives. Chief Phillips Emagbatere was also in attendance even though he is neither a Kingdom head nor a registered member of UPU UK. Members of the PG National Executive Council back home were also not consulted nor were they present in his entourage.
3. On Sunday the 21st of July 2019 at the All Saints Community Church, New Cross London, Olorogun Moses Taiga summoned and held a meeting of Urhobo which was not through UPU UK branch contrary to Article 10(3) of the Headquarters’ constitution and made proclamations as follows:

3.1 The unilateral dissolution with immediate effect of UPU UK National Executive Council headed by Chief (Barrister) Emmanuel Okpako Ganiga, contrary to Article 6(a) which states that all officers shall hold office for three years and 6(d)(1) officer shall hold the office until a successor takes the oath of that office. Same as per Article 8(2) (a) and 9(A) (1) of headquarters’ constitution.

3.2 The unilateral suspension of UPU UK By-laws with immediate effect contrary to the preamble section that states’… “This Bye-law shall be the GROUNDNUM, the basic rule book, guiding the activities of this union in the United Kingdom. Any other guidelines or rules, however named of this union and any other associated with it, or incorporated by this union, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution shall be null and void. This Bye-law shall remain in force and shall not be repealed en-bloc, but shall be amended in accordance with the guidelines set out herein. By the suspension the Bye law can longer remain in force. Also contrary to Article 31 of UPU UK Bye-laws.
3.3 The inauguration of a caretaker committee with immediate effect contrary to Article 6(d) (1) and 9(A) (1) as stated in note
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3.1 above. “There is no provision of a caretaker committee in the headquarters’ constitution and a recent case is Chief Ofotoku vs Chief Omene, and therefore UPU UK Bye-laws do not also provide for a caretaker committee but rather a smooth transition of power.

Furthermore, Article 32 of UPU UK Bye-laws states that ‘…The Urhobo Progressive Union UK shall not dissolve itself’.
3.4 The Inauguration of Electoral committee with immediate effect to conduct UPU UK General Elections contrary to Article 5 (3) of UPU UK Bye-laws…
The PG set up an illegal Electoral Committee comprising of non UPU members, for the purpose of conducting an election for UPU UK members. Article 5(3) of the unions Bye-law states that… “The National President in consultation with the National Executive Council and General House shall constitute an ad hoc Electoral Committee of 5 members with a chairman and secretary only for the conduct of the election at least four months before the expiration of tenure of officers of the union or three months before the date of the election”
The PG went on to provide a date for the said elections to take place, which is contrary to the provisions of Article 32(2) of the Bye-laws that states “…an Election date shall be fixed at a general meeting of the union at least four months to the expiration of the tenure of officers of the union”.
4. These actions of Ologun Moses Taiga are not permitted in his duties as PG under Article 10(1-12) of the Headquarters’ constitution nor
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UPU UK Bye-laws and is therefore, ULTRA VIRES (acting outside his powers) and is illegal and consequently NULL / VOID and of no effect.

5. The UPU UK as a branch is a legally constituted body that is registered under the laws of the United Kingdom and as such, no one individual can unilaterally dissolve it by a DECREE.
6. In this circumstance, we call on the PG Olorogun Moses Taiga to advise his illegal caretaker committee through Chief Phillips Emagbetere and the head of the Electoral committee Chief Godwin Ogholo to refrain from acting on his proclamations.
7. In the same vain the committees headed by Chief Phillip Emagbetere and Chief Godwin Ogholo are advised from parading themselves as officials of UPU UK.
8. We believe the PG was misled by those who had hijacked his activities upon his arrival in UK from the UPU UK branch for selfish
interest. We also believe that if the PG had consulted with his legal team in his National Executive Council in Nigeria, he may have acted differently and in good faith.
9. UPU UK is a properly constituted and registered body in the United Kingdom, and is therefore protected by the laws of the United Kingdom. We believe again that the PG was misinformed by a few individuals who have little or no background of the United Kingdom laws and equally failed to consult on same.

We hope this matter can still be properly managed without recourse to the court.
In conclusion therefore it is our sincere hope that from the foregoing, the PG may wish to review his proclamations and look for an alternative resolution mechanism such as full involvement of parties to the dispute themselves rather than an imposed caretaker and electoral committees.
Long live UPU! Long live UPU UK! Long live Urhobo Nation!
Long live Delta State of Nigeria!
URHOBO WADOO! URHOBO WADOO!! URHOBO WADOO!!!
URHOBO OVUOVO!!!

Signed:

OLOROGUN TED OCHUKO ARAYKI
NATIONAL SECRETARY URHOBO PROGRESS UNION (UPU) UK

DEACON DAROSHA SASERI
NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY URHOBO PROGRESS UNION (UPU) UK