KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, DISTINGUISHED SENATOR OVIE OMO-AGEGE, DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AT THE URHOBO DAY 2022 CELEBRATION OF URHOBO PROGRESS UNION, UNITED KINGDOM, AT THE CIVIC SUIT WANDSWORTH HIGH STREET, LONDON, SW18 2PU, ON SATURDAY, 27 AUGUST, 2022

Protocol

My dear kinsmen and women,

 

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

 

1. I am indeed very pleased to join you, Urhobo Progress Union, United Kingdom (UPU, UK) at the Urhobo Day 2022 celebration, a unique annual initiative set aside to celebrate excellence and reaffirm the joint vision for the continuing development of the Urhobo nation. I sincerely commend UPU, UK for its contributions to the development of the Urhobo nation and I call for your continued support to our people and communities back home.

 

2. There is no doubt that you have gathered here in London to re-dream a better Urhobo society with a united and greater Delta State and Nigeria in mind. Throughout history, Urhobo sons and daughters have cut a niche in all aspects of our national life including education, sports, politics, science and technology, arts, literary excellence, enterprise, and diplomacy, among others.

 

3. Wherever Urhobos have deployed their energy and skills, they have excelled across the world. I believe unity, hard work, excellence, persistence, and resilience were at the heart of the Urhobo success story. But today, the story is different.

4. The theme of the 2022 Urhobo Day celebration: Unity and Engagement for Urhobo Progress, is most appropriate at this point in our journey. There is no better time to discuss this very important subject considering the fact that Urhobo has not spoken with one voice for quite some time.

 

5. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is no news that the Urhobo nation is deeply divided, a division that is rooted in our history. About nine hundred and twenty years ago, the Urhobo people spread over 24 kingdoms had settled in what is today Urhobo land. These kingdoms were independent of one another, except that they had a common heritage of language and way of life.

6. However, the existence of dialectical differences and jealousy among the people led to disunity and the consequent promotion of self-interest over the collective of the entire Urhobo people. There is no doubt that this is the root of what we refer to today as individualism, which till date continues to pose an obstacle to Urhobo progress, especially in politics.

 

7. It was not until the formation of the Urhobo Progress Union, a social cultural organisation, which started in 1931 as Urhobo Brotherly Society in Warri, did Urhobo people start to organise themselves to achieve self-recognition as a collective in politics, even though Urhobo independence was acknowledged by the British in 1914.

 

8. For the founding fathers of UPU, notably Omorowhovo Okoro, Thomas Erukeme, Mukoro Mowoe, the unification of all Urhobo kingdoms under a centralized body that will do the things individual kingdoms could not do on their own was essential to the growth and development of Urhobo. They believed that unless the Urhobo people came together under one authority and spoke with one voice, the economic, social and educational aim of the Union would be greatly hindered.

 

9. And to foster unity and trust among all Urhobos, the founding fathers of UPU adopted the slogan of Urhobo Ovuovo, as captured in the UPU’s motto: Unity is Strength. Furthermore, they worked so hard to unite Urhobo under the umbrella of UPU and gave Urhobo a platform for the advancement of our collective interest in Nigeria.

 

10. Prior to 1931, Urhoboland was split. Abraka and Orogun clans were in Aboh Division, Idjerhe was part of Benin Division in Benin Province, Udu, Uvwie, Okpe, Agbon, and Oghara were part of the Jekri-Sobo Division. UPU fought for the unification of Urhoboland. In 1934, Urhobo Division was created with headquarters at Ughelli covering the present Ughellli North & South Local Government Areas and the two Isoko Local Government Areas. By 1951, Udu, Uvwie, Okpe, Agbon, and Oghara in Itsekiri/Urhobo Division were united with their compatriots as Western Urhobo while the estwhile Urhobo Division became Eastern Urhobo Division. Only Agbarha and Okere Urhobo were left in Warri Division.

 

11. The UPU went on to earn many achievements in the pursuit of Urhobo greatness. They confronted the challenge of education in the early 1940s and established Urhobo College, Effurun, one of the foremost community schools in Nigeria to provide education for Urhobo people.

12. Other achievements of the founding fathers of UPU included sponsorship of overseas university education to advance the cause of western education, recovery of Urhobo territories in Sapele, Ajagbodudu, Okere, Agbassa among others. The UPU also took up the political campaign to persuade the colonial government to recognise the coronation of Esezi II as Orodje of Okpe, after a long interregnum. All these feats were accomplished when Urhobo engaged one another and came together in unity to showcase her strength.

 

13. Regrettably, this spirit of oneness was not sustained. Disunity crept in once again and turned the Urhobo nation into a giant with clay feet. We mouth the fifth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria with no bite to back it up. As a consequence, we have suffered undeserved relegation in the political and developmental turfs, due mainly to the misdeeds and misdemeanors of some of its notable sons and daughters. The blame is largely ours and it is our responsibility to redress it.

 

14. Unity is the urgent need of the hour.  Unity above partisan politics, unity against internal division, unity against external hostility, but more fundamentally, unity in planning and in development, including the reawakening of the positive Urhobo cultural resources. Whether you are from Okpe, Ughelli, Uvwie, Udu,  Orogun, Agbarho, Agbarah, Abraka, Oghara, Agbon, Ughievwen, we are one people of the same ethnic nationality.

 

15. Let me be clear. The unity of Urhobo people is the pathway to the meaningful and sustainable development of our communities. We need to engage and network with one another to achieve unity and progress for our ethnic nationality.  

 

16. We are better and stronger together. Therefore; it behoves every Urhobo son and daughter to embark on a critical, holistic review of our social, political, and economic standing in Delta State and the larger Nigeria, to articulate smart and well-thought-out positions on national issues that will impact positively on our collective and individual interests.

 

17. The destiny of the Urhobo people is in our hands. You and I. We must engage and bond as one, at least substantially, to achieve our collective dream of progress.  Urhobo people should deviate from in-fighting, because it has brought us down economically, politically, and culturally.

18. I therefore appeal to every Urhobo son and daughter to always eschew disunity and divisive politics, and promote unity and the values of the Urhobo wherever they find themselves. Urhobo sons and daughters, including interest groups must close ranks and come together to move our communities, state and country forward.

 

19. My dear brothers and sisters, let me use this opportunity to once again thank our people for standing by me in my political journey. It has been a great honour and privilege to represent you at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

20. Over these seven years, Urhobo Nation was lifted up to its pride of place in Nigeria when I became the Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the fifth highest political office in Nigeria and gave Urhobo a strong voice in the Senate.

 

21. We sponsored the law establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), to give legal backing to this very important university in the heart of Urhoboland. There is also the law, establishing a federal polytechnic in Urhoboland. We have also facilitated a campus of the Nigerian Law School, and an elite Defence Space School all in Urhoboland.

 

22. We also enabled massive renovations in schools and hospitals, including modern teaching and learning infrastructure, as well as a wide network of road infrastructure across the entire Delta Central, and some other parts of the State. The same goes for electricity infrastructure of both conventional energy sources and renewable energy to light up towns and villages in Delta Central Senatorial District. These are what we did. I am proud of our achievements and so should every Urhobo son and daughter.

 

23. While I will continue to work for the progress of Urhobo, the time has come for me to work in concert with all progressive Urhobo sons and daughters, as well as those of other ethnic nationalities in Delta State to build on this solid foundation and extend our success story in Delta Central to Delta North and Delta South Senatorial Districts.

 

24. As you are no doubt aware, Delta State is a land of opportunities. We are blessed with both natural and human capital, but we have lacked visionary leadership that should have harnessed and converted our natural and human resources to commensurate prosperity for the citizens of our dear State. The situation continues to degenerate through the years, as those who brought us to this current state of despondency have remained intransigent and unwilling to change for good.

 

25. Deltans are yearning for change in leadership of our dear state to inject fresh blood to bring about good governance. We need new political leadership with new ideas to rapidly advance our infrastructure development and transform the State into an industrialised entity that is capable of creating the jobs required by our people.

 

26. This is why I am running for governor in 2023. My aspiration is about the future, to transform Delta into a modern, well-governed and economically stable State that puts ‘People First’. Our EDGE agenda to Build A New Delta (BAND) is built on four solid pillars of Employment and Empowerment; Development; Good Governance, and Enduring Peace and Security. The vision is a vibrant, equitable and prosperous Delta State.

 

27. So, if given the opportunity of the leadership of our dear State, I will be governor for all Deltans. Every part of the State will be developed and together, Delta State will soar to unprecedented heights. Peace and progress shall be our experience because everyone’s needs shall be met in a good and sustainable way.

 

28. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our EDGE agenda is contained in a 60-page manifesto that was released recently. It is a product of profound thought informed by my practical experience in both the Executive and Legislative arms of Government.

 

29. Having served as a Commissioner, as a Secretary to the Delta State government, as Senator, and now as Deputy President of the Senate, I am privileged to have a good all-encompassing view of the issues of governance. It is these experiences that I am bringing to bear on my plans for the development of the State. I am motivated by a desire to re-awaken the legendry Delta Spirit and the hope among Deltans to build a new Delta, where the people’s future is brighter than their past.

 

30. Our priority is to face headon the challenge of unemployment. Human capital development, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, housing, health and other labour-related interventions are at the core of our agenda. We shall establish a Delta State Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Empowerment Programme (DEEP). We shall also create the enabling environment for the establishment of cluster industries across the State.

 

31. We will deliberately create an enabling environment for industries and manufacturing, establish technology hubs, set up small business loan guarantee schemes, promote skills acquisition, and set up a Career Development Centre.

 

32. We will guarantee the rights of women and capitalise on their unique energy to drive social and economic development. We will also initiate a youth development program that will move the youth away from the hopelessness of today, connect them to creative endeavours and generate energies for honourable work.

 

33. One area we will seriously focus on is the cost of governance. This has been too high and continues to rise in the State. We will take measures to reduce the cost of governance in order to conserve funds for infrastructure development that would impact positively on the lives of the citizens.

34. Ladies and gentlemen, our mission to BUILD A NEW DELTA is a collective patriotic duty for Deltans at home and in the Diaspora. You all have a role to play in our determined effort to bring a change to our dear State.

 

35. Our people at home deeply respect and count on you in many ways. This is one time your objective and informed thoughts on good governance are required to guide our people in this very important election. Important in the sense that it will determine the future of our state after 24 years of abuse by a ruling party that is more concerned about perpetuating itself in power than rendering service to the people. We need your support and help. I therefore appeal to you all here and our brothers and sisters who are in the Diaspora to join us to shape a better future for all our people.  

 

36. I cannot end this address without further saying a word or two about this celebration. I am impressed by the organisation and participation and I must commend and congratulate the organisers, who have contributed their worthwhile time and resources to its success. It is my earnest hope that the Urhobo Progress Union, United Kingdom will guard jealously its strong position as a rallying point and trusted bastion for our people.

37. On behalf of my family and the good people of Delta Central Senatorial district, I wish you a most rewarding and fruitful Urhobo Day celebration.

 

38. Finally, I beckon on us all Urhobos and all Deltans, saying come. We have the EDGE. Let us band together to Build A New Delta.

Urhobo wa doh! Urhobo wa doh!!

Urhobo mena! Ovuovo!!

I thank you all for your kind attention.

 

HE Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

Deputy President of the Senate

(The Obarisi of Urhoboland)

 

August, 2022