Major Urhobo youth groups in Delta State on Wednesday strongly rejected the endorsement of Olorogun David Edevbie by the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide as its preferred governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
The groups under aegis of Coalition of Urhobo Youths (CUY), however, took a swipe at the President General of UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga, for the endorsement.
They stressed that the endorsement does not enjoy the support of Urhobo youths particularly those of Delta Central whose turn is to produce Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s successor in the 2023 governorship election.
UPU had on Sunday endorsed Olorogun Edevbie, a former commissioner for finance in Delta State and ex-Principal Secretary to Late President Musa Yar’Adua, as Urhobo preferred governorship candidate for the ruling PDP in the State.
UPU in a statement signed by its President General, Olorogun Taiga and others, also charged Governor Okowa to support the candidature of Olorogun Edevbie, who also served as his Chief of Staff until recently, for the ticket of the PDP during their primaries.
The Olorogun Taiga-led UPU has been under fire since announcing the endorsement with many groups including Coalition of Urhobo Youths (CUY) faulting the Urhobo apex body for dabbling into politics.
However, CUY, a group comprising of Urhobo Youth Leaders Association (UYLA), Urhobo Youth Council (UYC), Urhobo National Youth Movement (UNYM) HOSTCOM Youths, Ex Agitators and UPU Youth Wing, disassociated themselves from the UPU endorsement.
Briefing journalists after an emergency meeting of the groups at Udu, Delta State on Wednesday, CUY called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to disregard the endorsement as it does not have the support of Urhobo youths who formed the majority of her population.
A text of press statement read by the chairman of Coalition of Urhobo Youths (CUY), Hon Isaac Omomedia was signed by Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, Coordinator, Coalition of Urhobo Youths CUY); Chief Samuel Oghotomo representing Urhobo Youth Leaders Association and Comrade Engho Godspower representing Urhobo Youth Council.
“Ordinary, we wouldn’t have bothered ourselves to respond to these set of selfish and greedy persons who claimed to have endorsed an aspirant against others which is any way ridiculously 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 the 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 into 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 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-travelers 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 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 it’s entirety Moses Taiga actions which will never stand and is dead on arrival. Delta should know that Governorship election is the job of all Deltans, Not for 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 Edevbie 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. These act of the UPU is nothing but gambling with the destiny of the youths and this partisan tendencies of the UPU must stop now”, Omomedia stated on behalf of the group.
Adding, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, noted that Governor Okowa had promised to conduct a transparent governorship primaries for all the contestants, and pledged Urhobo youths support to his administration.
“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 elections for the party candidate to emerge, we call on all delegates to open their eyes.
“We plead once again that His Excellency should disregard the Moses Taiga 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 neither the choice of the Urhobo nation”, Oyibode added.
This Urhobo Youths must be very careful not to truncate the Urhobo’s mandate in 2023. Just like the the Anioma nation worked collectively as an Ethnic nationality, pre 2015, to clinch the Governorship of Delta State, in 2015.
The key word is Unity. Without Unity your chances in a multi-ethnic nationalities context, will diminish, leading to a colossal loss. You must team up with your Traditional Rulers and Elders to forge a common front.
I believe strongly in rotation , which had seen Central, South and North take 8 years tenure in succession
The one great mistake that will cost you this opportunity is implosion (in fighting). You must all sheath your ego and work for the common Urhobo Avenda. A word is enough for the wise.