The-urhobos-of-delta-central-jeopardizing-and-undoing-themselves-politically-due-to-the-greed-of-some-irresponsible-delta-state-politicians-elites-this-needs-to-change
September 7, 2020 | News
THE URHOBOS OF DELTA CENTRAL JEOPARDIZING AND UNDOING THEMSELVES POLITICALLY, DUE TO THE GREED OF SOME IRRESPONSIBLE DELTA STATE POLITICIANS/ELITES – THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE
It is rather sad that most of our people have forgotten, or have chosen to wash down the drain - all the great sacrifices and contributions some of our past and present sons and daughters of our Urhobo land have had to make to bring all of us and the Urhobo nation to where we are today as a people. We are sure that the likes of Great Mukoro Mowoe will be turning in his grave over the backwardness and downgrading ‘political status’ the Delta Central (Urhobo nation) is being pushed into by some of our so-called political leaders and elites.
With the 2019 Presidential elections in history books, it is sad to observe how the “almighty URHOBO NATION has fallen politically”. Before now, Delta Central (Urhobo nation) have always prided herself as the ‘political heartbeat of Delta State’ due to her population strength and number of votes in most previous elections. Also, the Delta Central has more urban Communities than any other Senatorial District in Delta State; namely Ughelli, Sapele, Agbarho, Otokutu, Usiefrun, Orhuwhorun, Ovwian, Aladja, Ujevwu, Ekpan, Effurun, Ugbomro, Osubi, Orerokpe, Ekete, Jeddo, Okuokoko, Ebrumede, Amukpe, Okrighwre and Eku. However, it was revealed that the 2019 Presidential election has presented a different connotation. For a Senatorial District that have wanted to hold on to the power of the state, it should be a pain and a matter of urgent concern knowing that, the Delta Central now trail behind other Senatorial Districts in terms of total number of votes cast. Using 2019 Presidential Election: Delta South: 384, 588 (1st); Delta North: 222, 773 (2nd); Delta central: 210,522 (3rd). Delta North has 9 LGAs, Delta South has 8 LGAs - totaling 17, which is already 2-3rd of the State number of LGAs. Where does that leave Delta Central (Urhobo nation) politically? Obviously at a disadvantage!
"What the above brief analysis portend is that, a time will come (if not now) when the 2 Senatorial Districts (Delta North and South) can decide to rotate the Governorship seat between them without necessarily needing the support of the Delta Central. For example, in 2023 elections, the Delta South can decide to project another tribe person for the Governorship seat, and if they team up with Delta North (in PDP), going by their voting pattern in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, they will win clean and clear. This is a danger sign, and the Urhobo nation should wake up to this possible political realities."
This is even more embarrassing and appalling when we consider the unarguable fact that the Urhobos, are the Fourth largest tribe in Nigeria. Regardless of most of the unexplained and unjustified claims on the internet, we can unequivocally justify that truly, the Urhobos are the Fourth largest ethnic tribe in Nigeria after the Three major tribes of The Hausas/Fulanis, The Yorubas and The Igbos. Apart from being the dominant ethnic group in Delta State, The Urhobos have other large settlements/towns in Bayelsa, Ajengunle, Owo, Ore, Okitipupa, Oro in Kwara and a significant population outside Nigeria. Apart from the Nigerian three major tribes of Ibos, Hausas/fulanis, and Yoruba; Urhobo villages and towns/cities are densely populated. The entire Urhobo-lands have grown over several decades and have joined together as one mega city. From Effurun down to Agbarho town, they have joined together. From Enerhen down to Udu bridge and Ovwian, Udu they have also joined with Jeremi, Okpare, Olomu and down to Ughelli. Ughelli main city has joined with Afieseri, Agbarha-Otor and Ogor, and have connected to Agbon towns and Orogun towns. Effurun has also joined to Orerokpe down to Eku and Abraka. Same with other Urhobo areas. There are also a lot of factors to buttress this fact, one of which is the fact that under the defunct Western region, the Urhobo votes of the old Warri Province counted a great lot, hence the Urhobos were recognized. In the defunct Midwest/Bendel State, the Urhobo votes were quite significant, and former President Shehu Shagari got his Two-third (2/3rd) votes from the Urhobos back then. That population of the Urhobos has since quadrupled when we consider the present population. The Urhobos have most of the major urban cities in Delta State.
Despite all of these facts, some Urhobo elites, Traditional rulers and political leaders, are very comfortable with the Urhobo nation being cheated by others in the scheme of things. If the Urhobos were quite significant and had good voting strength under the Western region, Mid-Western region and later Bendel State, but now that we are in Delta State that voting strength has drastically reduced, then it means something is seriously wrong somewhere. One would expect that between then and now, Urhobos voting strength should have quadrupled as its population grows. But that has not been the case according to recent election results. Is that not enough to make any reasonable Urhobo person to see that something is wrong, and there is need for this to be addressed. This is because if things continue at the current pace, the Urhobos voting strength will soon be reduced to nothing in few years to come.
Apparently, the reason for the developing ‘political-backwardness’, and the Urhobos not being given its rightful and appropriate status, is due to the insatiable greed of few irresponsible and selfish politicians and the elites supporting them, who are only interested in cheating their own people. These political leaders have sold their conscience and birthrights for a pot of porridge and ephemeral things. I do not really care who these people or the so-called positions they hold at the moment. They are nothing but greedy and irresponsible men and women who do not mean well for their own people. Mukoro Mowoe had a vision for the Urhobos, and he was not ruled by ‘SELFISHNESS’ OR ‘PERSONAL GREED’ - by selling his Urhobo tribe for a plate of rice, just like the present crop of Urhobo elites are known for. During the era of Mukoro Mowoe, down to Dr. Federick Esiri, the Urhobo nation was well respected both home and abroad, and was given its due place in the affairs of Nigeria.
Sadly, as of today, what we have amongst us are people who are driven more by sheer ‘GREED’ and selfishness.
Our Urhobo political leaders and elites do not seem to realize the adverse and rippling effects of their actions of today, and how this affects the outcome of their tomorrow and far future in relation to the status of the Urhobo nation. Practically everybody is more concerned about what they hope to gain, reap, benefit, and consume for today, without any thought of the wellbeing of the Urhobo nation’s tomorrow or how their actions of today affects the near and far future. That is why for years, and even till today, we see our people, both young and old, those in government and those being governed; doing things without any iota of thought of how their actions would affect others in the future.
To put it bluntly, it is high time for these persons concerned to retrace their steps and consider every present and future action to rescue the falling political status of the Urhobo nation. In fact, this should be considered as a stern warning to the few Urhobo elites and political leaders who are satisfied with having bread and butter at the expense and detriment of their own people. If these few persons appear to pose a threat to the political status of the Urhobo nation, they should be warned that soon, their sins will catch up with them and the disgrace that will follow, cannot be measured. Other well-meaning Urhobo brothers and sisters who have the overall interest of the Urhobo nation at heart, should join forces to expose and put these few "Judases in our midst" in their rightful place. This has to change, enough of this nonsense!
Zik Gbemre.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
It is rather sad that most of our people have forgotten, or have chosen to wash down the drain - all the great sacrifices and contributions some of our past and present sons and daughters of our Urhobo land have had to make to bring all of us and the Urhobo nation to where we are today as a people. We are sure that the likes of Great Mukoro Mowoe will be turning in his grave over the backwardness and downgrading ‘political status’ the Delta Central (Urhobo nation) is being pushed into by some of our so-called political leaders and elites.
With the 2019 Presidential elections in history books, it is sad to observe how the “almighty URHOBO NATION has fallen politically”. Before now, Delta Central (Urhobo nation) have always prided herself as the ‘political heartbeat of Delta State’ due to her population strength and number of votes in most previous elections. Also, the Delta Central has more urban Communities than any other Senatorial District in Delta State; namely Ughelli, Sapele, Agbarho, Otokutu, Usiefrun, Orhuwhorun, Ovwian, Aladja, Ujevwu, Ekpan, Effurun, Ugbomro, Osubi, Orerokpe, Ekete, Jeddo, Okuokoko, Ebrumede, Amukpe, Okrighwre and Eku. However, it was revealed that the 2019 Presidential election has presented a different connotation. For a Senatorial District that have wanted to hold on to the power of the state, it should be a pain and a matter of urgent concern knowing that, the Delta Central now trail behind other Senatorial Districts in terms of total number of votes cast. Using 2019 Presidential Election: Delta South: 384, 588 (1st); Delta North: 222, 773 (2nd); Delta central: 210,522 (3rd). Delta North has 9 LGAs, Delta South has 8 LGAs - totaling 17, which is already 2-3rd of the State number of LGAs. Where does that leave Delta Central (Urhobo nation) politically? Obviously at a disadvantage!
"What the above brief analysis portend is that, a time will come (if not now) when the 2 Senatorial Districts (Delta North and South) can decide to rotate the Governorship seat between them without necessarily needing the support of the Delta Central. For example, in 2023 elections, the Delta South can decide to project another tribe person for the Governorship seat, and if they team up with Delta North (in PDP), going by their voting pattern in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, they will win clean and clear. This is a danger sign, and the Urhobo nation should wake up to this possible political realities."
This is even more embarrassing and appalling when we consider the unarguable fact that the Urhobos, are the Fourth largest tribe in Nigeria. Regardless of most of the unexplained and unjustified claims on the internet, we can unequivocally justify that truly, the Urhobos are the Fourth largest ethnic tribe in Nigeria after the Three major tribes of The Hausas/Fulanis, The Yorubas and The Igbos. Apart from being the dominant ethnic group in Delta State, The Urhobos have other large settlements/towns in Bayelsa, Ajengunle, Owo, Ore, Okitipupa, Oro in Kwara and a significant population outside Nigeria. Apart from the Nigerian three major tribes of Ibos, Hausas/fulanis, and Yoruba; Urhobo villages and towns/cities are densely populated. The entire Urhobo-lands have grown over several decades and have joined together as one mega city. From Effurun down to Agbarho town, they have joined together. From Enerhen down to Udu bridge and Ovwian, Udu they have also joined with Jeremi, Okpare, Olomu and down to Ughelli. Ughelli main city has joined with Afieseri, Agbarha-Otor and Ogor, and have connected to Agbon towns and Orogun towns. Effurun has also joined to Orerokpe down to Eku and Abraka. Same with other Urhobo areas. There are also a lot of factors to buttress this fact, one of which is the fact that under the defunct Western region, the Urhobo votes of the old Warri Province counted a great lot, hence the Urhobos were recognized. In the defunct Midwest/Bendel State, the Urhobo votes were quite significant, and former President Shehu Shagari got his Two-third (2/3rd) votes from the Urhobos back then. That population of the Urhobos has since quadrupled when we consider the present population. The Urhobos have most of the major urban cities in Delta State.
Despite all of these facts, some Urhobo elites, Traditional rulers and political leaders, are very comfortable with the Urhobo nation being cheated by others in the scheme of things. If the Urhobos were quite significant and had good voting strength under the Western region, Mid-Western region and later Bendel State, but now that we are in Delta State that voting strength has drastically reduced, then it means something is seriously wrong somewhere. One would expect that between then and now, Urhobos voting strength should have quadrupled as its population grows. But that has not been the case according to recent election results. Is that not enough to make any reasonable Urhobo person to see that something is wrong, and there is need for this to be addressed. This is because if things continue at the current pace, the Urhobos voting strength will soon be reduced to nothing in few years to come.
Apparently, the reason for the developing ‘political-backwardness’, and the Urhobos not being given its rightful and appropriate status, is due to the insatiable greed of few irresponsible and selfish politicians and the elites supporting them, who are only interested in cheating their own people. These political leaders have sold their conscience and birthrights for a pot of porridge and ephemeral things. I do not really care who these people or the so-called positions they hold at the moment. They are nothing but greedy and irresponsible men and women who do not mean well for their own people. Mukoro Mowoe had a vision for the Urhobos, and he was not ruled by ‘SELFISHNESS’ OR ‘PERSONAL GREED’ - by selling his Urhobo tribe for a plate of rice, just like the present crop of Urhobo elites are known for. During the era of Mukoro Mowoe, down to Dr. Federick Esiri, the Urhobo nation was well respected both home and abroad, and was given its due place in the affairs of Nigeria.
Sadly, as of today, what we have amongst us are people who are driven more by sheer ‘GREED’ and selfishness.
Our Urhobo political leaders and elites do not seem to realize the adverse and rippling effects of their actions of today, and how this affects the outcome of their tomorrow and far future in relation to the status of the Urhobo nation. Practically everybody is more concerned about what they hope to gain, reap, benefit, and consume for today, without any thought of the wellbeing of the Urhobo nation’s tomorrow or how their actions of today affects the near and far future. That is why for years, and even till today, we see our people, both young and old, those in government and those being governed; doing things without any iota of thought of how their actions would affect others in the future.
To put it bluntly, it is high time for these persons concerned to retrace their steps and consider every present and future action to rescue the falling political status of the Urhobo nation. In fact, this should be considered as a stern warning to the few Urhobo elites and political leaders who are satisfied with having bread and butter at the expense and detriment of their own people. If these few persons appear to pose a threat to the political status of the Urhobo nation, they should be warned that soon, their sins will catch up with them and the disgrace that will follow, cannot be measured. Other well-meaning Urhobo brothers and sisters who have the overall interest of the Urhobo nation at heart, should join forces to expose and put these few "Judases in our midst" in their rightful place. This has to change, enough of this nonsense!
Zik Gbemre.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes