By Olorogun Dr. Gamaliel Onoriode
The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), our foremost socio-cultural organization and the proud custodian of Urhobo identity, unity, and progress, stands today at a crossroads. As we approach another defining moment in our collective journey, there is a compelling moral, constitutional, and civic duty to demand accountability from those who have led us these past three years.
Olorogun Ese Gam’s tenure as President-General of the UPU must not end in silence or sentiment. The UPU Constitution mandates transparency, integrity, and stewardship from all officers who have been entrusted with the sacred responsibility of leading the Urhobo Nation. Specifically, Article 15(2)(b) (Financial Accountability) and Article 16(1)(a–d) (Duties of the Executive) provide clear guidance that the leadership must render accounts to the National Congress including audited financial statements and a detailed report of achievements and challenges during its tenure.
It is therefore only fair, just, and constitutional that Olorogun Ese Gam and his National Executive Council should publish the audited accounts of the UPU covering the last three years. Urhobo people deserve to know how the resources and goodwill of the Union were managed, what progress has been made, and where we have collectively failed. Leadership without accountability is a betrayal of trust.
A HOUSE IN DISREPAIR: SYMBOLS OF UNFULFILLED PROMISES
The physical and moral state of the Urhobo House, once envisioned as a symbol of unity and pride, now stands as a metaphor for abandonment. The structure remains an unfinished and neglected project a silent reminder of unfulfilled promises and administrative inertia.
How can a Union that cannot complete its own house claim to be the voice and conscience of a proud and industrious people? Accountability begins with evidence of tangible progress, not endless speeches and slogans.
THE OKUAMA FIVE AND URHOBO LIVES IN PERIL
The continued detention of the Okuama Five without decisive intervention by the UPU leadership raises painful questions about moral courage and advocacy. What has the UPU done beyond press statements to secure justice for these sons of Urhobo Nation?
Similarly, Urhobo people in Warri, especially in Okere and Agbarha Kingdoms, have faced persistent violence, intimidation, and marginalization. Yet, the Union’s response has been tepid, indifferent, and reactionary. The silence of leadership in the face of injustice is complicity.
DIVISIONS, FACTIONS, AND THE DEATH OF UNITY
Under this administration, the once cohesive UPU family has splintered into factions — both locally and globally. Instead of building bridges across kingdoms and diaspora branches, this leadership has fueled division through clannishness and parochialism, reducing a noble institution into a playground for personal ambition and self-preservation.
The founding fathers of UPU from Chief Mukoro Mowoe to Chief T.E.A. Salubi built a Union that transcended tribe and politics. Today, that legacy is being eroded by greed, favouritism, and manipulative tendencies.
THE TANTITA SCANDAL AND POLITICAL HUSTLING
The recent Tantita Security scandal and the unseemly scramble for patronage from the Delta State Government have further diminished the moral standing of the UPU. A socio-cultural organization must not become a commercial venture for personal gain or political alignment.
When the UPU leadership begins to chase contracts, lobby for appointments, or seek political favour instead of protecting Urhobo interests, it betrays the very soul of the organization. Leadership must serve, not hustle.
A MORAL IMPERATIVE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Olorogun Ese Gam must now come before Urhobo Nation with humility and honesty. He must present:
1. Audited accounts of the UPU for 2022–2025, certified by an independent auditor as required by the Constitution.
2. A comprehensive report of activities — achievements, setbacks, and lessons learned.
3. An explanation for the abandonment of major projects such as Urhobo House.
4. A statement on advocacy efforts for the Okuama Five and protection of Urhobo lives in Delta State.
5. A clear justification for seeking re-election: What exactly does he want to continue doing?
Accountability is not persecution; it is a moral obligation to the people who entrusted him with leadership. Before asking for another term, he must first account for the one he has served.
THE WAY FORWARD
The Urhobo Nation can no longer afford leaders who see the UPU as a platform for personal enrichment or political positioning. We need men and women of integrity, service, and vision – leaders who can rebuild trust, complete abandoned projects, protect our people, and restore the dignity of Urhobo identity.
Let it be known that those who seek to lead must first be prepared to account. Silence, secrecy, and manipulation are not leadership. The time for reckoning has come.
CONCLUSION
This call is not personal; it is patriotic. It is not vengeance; it is vigilance.
As the saying goes, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.”
The UPU must return to its founding ideals — transparency, unity, and service to the Urhobo Nation.
Olorogun Ese Gam must step forward, render account of his stewardship, and explain to Urhobo people why he deserves another chance. Anything less would be an insult to the conscience of our Nation.
Olorogun Dr. Gamaliel Onoriode
Urhobo Accountability Forum
