One Year Assessment: Urhobo Groups Score Buhari Low, Rate Okowa High
LAGOS JUNE 10TH (URHOBOTODAY)-As both the federal and state government marked one year in office, Urhobo groups who came together under the aegis of The Convocation of Urhobo Advocacy Organisations have released a score sheet in which they scored President Muhammadu Buhari low in term of what Urhobo benefitted from him within the period, while Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was rated very high with respect to how his administration had improved the lives Urhobo people.
Assessing the administration of Buhari within the stipulated period, the group in a communique observed with utmost dismay that, like previous governments, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the Urhobo Ethnic Nation in its first year in office by not only refusing to accord the Urhobo ethnic nation its pride of place as the 5th largest ethnic group in the country, but also sidelined and neglected Urhobo in all of his scheme of things as reflected in the appointments he has made so far.
They blamed the inability of the league of Urhobos who pioneered and mobilised a larger section of Urhobos to vote for President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress, APC, to attract any meaning dividend of democracy to Urhobo within the first one year of the administration.
“It was observed that the appointment of Chief Barr. Jaro Movudu Egbo as SA to the State Petroleum Minister, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, was the handiwork of the Itsekiri’s Chief Ayiri Emami, meaning that without such person as Chief Ayiri, Urhobo would have been completely left without even the position of a messenger one year after voting for Buhari even though hundreds of appointments have been reeled out by the President.”
The groups surveyed the Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration of Delta State, with special observation that the Urhobo ethnic nationality has been duly recognised and patronised by the governor in terms of appointments of Urhobo Sons and Daughters into various positions in his cabinet.
They however, observed that while Gov. Okowa has displayed an appreciable level of magnanimity that portrays him as a detribalized politician, there is still much yet to be done to adequately service the Urhobo ethnic nationality in recognition of its undisputable stance as largest ethnic group in the state.
The session scored Okowa high in his first one year in office, while urging him never to contemplate any decline in his administrative policy but strive to do better to ensure the entire state is evenly developed and patronised throughout his tenure of office.
BELOW IS THE COMMUNIQUE
THE CONVOCATION OF URHOBO ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS
COMMUNIQUÉ
BEING A COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE SELECT-STAKEHOLDER’S 2016 DEMOCRACY ANNIVERSARY SESSION TO X-RAY HOW URHOBO HAS FARED IN THE ONE YEAR OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND SEN. DR. IFEANYI OKOWA’S ADMINISTRATIONS, CONVENED BY THE URHOBO MEDIA GROUP IN COLLABORATION WITH URHOBO RENAISSANCE FORUM, URHOBO UNITED MOVEMENT, URHOBO DEVELOPMENTAL ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS UNDER THE AEGIS OF “CONVOCATION OF URHOBO ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS” ON SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016, AT THE PRESTEG REST PLACE, UGHELLI.
PROTOCOL
As the Nigerian nation marked the 2016 Democracy Day Celebration, stakeholders of Urhobo ethnic nation gathered to critically x-ray and brainstorm over the position and fate of the Urhobo ethnic nation under the leaderships of both the Federal and State Governments, particularly on how well the Urhobo ethnic nation has fared so far at the national level where it is the 5th largest and State, where it is the largest ethnic group. The session also looked into domestic and sundry issues like the effectiveness of Urhobo Federal Lawmakers, the controversies rocking the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, and how this has adversely affected the realization of the expectations of Urhobo, among others. At the end, stakeholders concluded, resolved and declared as follows:
URHOBO IN THE PRESIDENT BUHARI’S ONE YEAR:
1. The session observed with utmost dismay that, like previous governments, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the Urhobo Ethnic Nation in its first year in office by not only refusing to accord the Urhobo ethnic nation its pride of place as the 5th largest ethnic group in the country, but also sidelining and neglecting Urhobo in all of his scheme of things as reflected in the appointments he has made so far.
2. The session also observed with utmost dismay, the inability of the league of Urhobos who pioneered and mobilised a larger section of Urhobos to vote for President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress, APC, to attract any meaning dividend of democracy to Urhobo within the first one year of the administration.
It was observed that the appointment of Chief Barr. Jaro Movudu Egbo as SA to the State Petroleum Minister, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, was the handiwork of the Itsekiri’s Chief Ayiri Emami, meaning that without such person as Chief Ayiri, Urhobo would have been completely left without even the position of a messenger one year after voting for Buhari even though hundreds of appointments have been reeled out by the President.
3. The session decried the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari, which was seen mainly as nothing but an unnecessary vendetta and ill-fated plot against Urhobo – which is a continuation of the abysmal neglect of Urhobo ethnic nation by previous governments that was expected to have been addressed by the APC-led government.
4. The session, after thorough consideration of the above raised issues and several others, including the fact that the length of ONE YEAR is enough to determine the value and worth placed on an ethnic nationality such that occupies a place as the 5th largest in the country, by a government, hereby deem it fit, without fear or fervour and unequivocally, too, to PASS A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE ON PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, his ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC – led Federal Government and their Leaders of Urhobo origin.
URHOBO IN THE SEN. DR. OKOWA’S ONE YEAR:
5. The session surveyed the Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration of Delta State, with special observation that the Urhobo ethnic nationality has been duly recognised and patronised by the governor in terms of appointments of Urhobo Sons and Daughters into various positions in his cabinet.
6. The session, however, observed that while Gov. Okowa has displayed an appreciable level of magnanimity that portrays him as a detribalized politician, there is still much yet to be done to adequately service the Urhobo ethnic nationality in recognition of its undisputable stance as largest ethnic group in the state.
7. The session scored Gov. Okowa high in his first one year in office, while urging him never to contemplate any decline in his administrative policy but strive to do better to ensure the entire state is evenly developed and patronised throughout his tenure of office.
URHOBO FEDERAL LAWMAKERS
8. On the league of Federal Lawmakers of Urhobo origin at the National Assembly, the session observed that no visible positive impact of them have been felt within the first one of the present administration; and therefore called on the Distinguished Senator to work with the Urhobo House of Reps Members, irrespective of their party/personal differences, beliefs and convictions, as a team in order to bring home quality dividends of democracy from the FG down to the doorsteps of the teaming population of those who voted them into office.
9. The session however hailed the Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the vibrancy he has restore to the Delta Central Senatorial District seat since he was sworn-in at the red chambers, especially for the people-oriented bills he has so far sponsored, foremost of which is the Bill for an act establishing the University of Petroleum Technology, Ogbomro.
Be that as it may, the session deem it necessary to call on Sen. Omo-Agege to focus more on issues relevant to resolving the core problems bedeviling the Urhobo Nation in the formulation of his bills and motions.
UPU
10. The session reviewed the raging polarisation of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, and extensively deliberated on the actions of the Urhobo Traditional Rulers in purportedly dissolving the Chief Engr. Joe Omene-led executive and subsequent inauguration of a Caretaker Committee headed by Chief Ofotuku, in a manner that is alien to the operational Constitution of the UPU leading to the institution of a law suit.
The session observed that the act being unconstitutional should be reversed and resort to status-quo in which Chief Omens should be allowed to serve out his tenure to allow peace reign; and for the interest of peace and unity in Urhoboland that could guarantee development.
11. The session observed that the polarisation of the UPU is partly responsible for some of the woes of the Urhobo ethnic nationality, especially at the national front where the lack of a unified voice to push for the rights and privileges as is customarily due, has made Urhobo lost its voice to press for its benefits as the nation’s 5th largest ethnic group.
12. The session observed that the position of UPU prior to the 2015 General Elections in which the leadership routed for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan while another faction led by Chief Tuesday Onoge mobilized for President Buhari, is not enough excuse by the Buhari-led Federal Government to sideline Urhobo, as being insinuated in some quarters moreso , when Buhari did not expressly win the whole of north.
CONCLUSION
13. The session called on all Urhobo political office holders including Urhobo Politicians, both at the Federal and State levels, to close ranks irrespective of their party affiliations, and work collectively to ensure that the Urhobo ethnic nation get her fare share of the dividends of democracy.
Signed:
Prince Daniel Ekiugbo
President
Urhobo Media Group
(Convener)
W/O Benjamin Ebite (NAF rtd)
President
Urhobo Renaissance Forum
Come. Blessing Orhorhoro
President
Urhobo Developmental Advancement Initiative
Eseoghene Odedede
President
Urhobo United Movement
Princess Benedicta Dafiaghor
President
Women Solidarity Front
