By Emeke Alexander
A coalition of Urhobo youth groups has vowed to resist the adoption of Olorogun David Edevbie as the preferred and sole Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the 2023 governorship election in Delta State by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU.
Recall that Edevbie was adopted by the UPU via a communique issued on Sunday, April 17, 2022, and signed by Olorogun Moses Oghenerume Taiga, President-General, Chief Anthony Onoharigho, 1st Deputy President-General, Chief Godwin Notoma, Chairman, Forum of Presidents-General of the 24 Urhobo Kingdoms, Dame Chief (Mrs.) Christy Siakpere, President, UPU Women Wing and Comrade Ovie Ebireri, President, UPU Youth Wing.
However, the coalition of Urhobo youth groups on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at a national press conference held in Udu Local Government Area described the adoption by Olorogun Taiga and his sectional members of the UPU as a “dubious political concoction in all ramifications” and vowed to “make the Urhobo ungovernable for Taiga, or better still he should resign”.
Hon Isaac Omomedia, Chairman of Coalition of Urhobo Youths (CUY) read the position paper of the Urhobo youths at the press conference which had in attendance Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, Coordinator, Coalition of Urhobo Youths (CUY); Chief Samuel Oghotomo representing Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (UYLA) and Comrade Engho Godspower representing Urhobo Youth Council (UYC).
The emergency press conference also had in attendance the leaders of the Urhobo National Youth Movement (UNYM), HOSTCOM Youths, Ex Agitators and UPU Youth Wing.
“Ordinary, we wouldn’t have bothered ourselves to respond to this set of selfish and greedy persons who claimed to have endorsed an aspirant against others which is in any way ridiculous and laughable. The UPU is a socio-cultural organization of all Urhobo people worldwide, we cannot leave it to the hand of Moses Taiga to drag the Urhobo nation to the mud. The agenda they are pushing is aimed at destroying the Urhobo nation politically and we the youths will not accept such a dance of shame from our so-called fathers.
“One expected that the UPU as the Umbrella body of all Urhobo must stand to be neutral to all her son provided the Governorship position come 2023 is rotated to Delta Central Urhobos.
“The action of Moses Taiga is a pointer to destructive manipulation of Urhobo people since UPU is not a pan Delta group but for all Urhobo people irrespective of political party affiliation. One did not expect UPU to dabble in the internal affairs of any political party. This is one misstep too many and we cannot fold our arms to allow a self-serving gang of compromised, ineffective and irresponsible bodies of politicians to drag the revered UPU down the mud of political idiocy and unpardonable infamy.
“We the youths would therefore want to appeal to all Deltans that what Moses Taiga and his co-travellers did, does not have the blessing of the Urhobo Youths and other meaning Urhobo Sons and Daughters. We believe in One Delta State as such all ethnic Nationality in the state will jointly select and elect an Urhobo son who is detribalized but a product of the political consensus and stand of all Deltans.
“Let us repeat for the umpteenth time that UPU is not a political party, as such we wonder why they are trying to interfere in the internal affairs of the PDP.
“Since the said endorsement hit the media space, we have been inundated with calls as many expressed concern over plans by Moses Taiga and his choice candidate who both are based in Lagos and London that when they succeed in their infamous, unpopular, totally disgraceful plot of entering government house through the backdoor, of which God will not allow it to happen, that they will run the Government with their cronies from Lagos and London. Deltans be wise.
“We, therefore, alert all Deltans that the endorsement did not reflect the interest of the entire Urhobo people but that of a few self-serving individuals who are on a wild goose chase. We condemn in its entirety Moses Taiga’s actions which will never stand and is dead on arrival. Delta should know that Governorship election is the job of all Deltans, Not for a few or one ethnic group, or individuals like Moses Taiga to decide.
“We shall stand to resist this dubious political concoction in all ramifications. We shall make the Urhobo ungovernable for Taiga, or better still he should resign. Recall that UPU endorsed this same David Edevwie in 2014, if not that His Excellency Senator Dr Arthur Okowa has a heart big enough to run an all-inclusive government, the Urhobo could have been disadvantaged and totally shut out of the present administration. This act of the UPU is nothing but gambling with the destiny of the youths and this partisan tendency of the UPU must stop now.
“We call on His Excellency to disregard the Taiga Moses irresponsible and selfish endorsement, as your sobriquet, Ekwueme the talk Na do and we strongly believe that as you had promised the PDP your party free and fair primary, we are strongly behind you in the conduct of a visibly transparent election for the party candidate to emerge, we call on all delegates to open their eyes.
“We plead once again that His Excellency should disregard Moses Taiga’s iniquitous agenda which is totally against the wish of all Urhobo people. Let us go into the primary election as those beating this awkward drum of confusion do not wish you well. They are planting political landmines ahead of your journey into greater political glory and you must be resolute, fight like the man you are and make Delta state a true democratic space for true democracy to thrive. David Edevbie is their choice, not our choice nor the choice of the Urhobo nation,” said the coalition of Urhobo youth groups.
