Olorogun John Nani has renewed his push for the Urhobo cause, articulating an irredentist ideology rooted in historical justice, cultural preservation, and political reawakening within Delta State and the Nigerian federation.
Speaking at a gathering of Urhobo leaders, professionals, and youth stakeholders, Nani emphasised that the Urhobo nation must deliberately reclaim its ancestral heritage and political relevance through lawful, organised, and people-driven engagement.
He explained that Urhobo irredentism, as he advocates for it, is the ideological framework aimed at correcting historical distortions caused by colonial-era arrangements, post-independence boundary adjustments, and political compromises that, he argues, have weakened Urhobo influence in the Niger Delta.
According to Nani, these developments have gradually eroded ancestral claims, reduced bargaining power, and diluted the cultural authority of Urhobo communities, despite their demographic strength and economic contributions to Delta State.
He warned that continued silence and internal disunity would further entrench marginalisation, stressing that ethnic consciousness, when properly channelled, is a legitimate tool in pushing the ideology and seeking political reawakening.
The Urhobo leader called on elites and political actors from the ethnic nationality to prioritise collective interest over personal ambition, noting that fragmented leadership has historically undermined Urhobo positioning in state and national affairs.
Nani also urged traditional institutions across Urhobo land to play a more assertive role in defending ancestral heritage, cultural values, and communal interests, describing traditional authority as a stabilising force in ethnic mobilisation.
Addressing the youths, he emphasised education, civic participation, and disciplined activism as essential tools in pushing the ideology and advancing the political reawakening of Urhobo communities, cautioning against violence, apathy, and factionalism.
He reaffirmed that Urhobo irredentism is not a call for secession or disorder, but a demand for justice, recognition, and strategic engagement, urging all stakeholders to unite around a common agenda anchored on dialogue, law, and shared destiny.
Stakeholders at the event noted that Nani’s posture reflects a broader resurgence of ethnic self-assertion among Urhobo intellectuals and political figures, who believe that structured advocacy within constitutional limits is necessary to address long-standing grievances.
