Dr. Benson Uwheru
The time has come to put an end, once and for all – to the unproductive, divisive, and misleading debate that seeks to separate Okpe from the larger Urhobo Nation.
This narrative is not only historically flawed but also strategically dangerous, especially at a time when unity, focus, and collective action are desperately needed to advance the economic prosperity and political relevance of our people.
Let us be clear: Okpe is Urhobo. Urhobo is Okpe. We are one people – connected by ancestry, bound by blood, sustained by language, and united by heritage. Any attempt to fracture this bond is not only an affront to our ancestors but also a betrayal of the legacy we are meant to build for future generations.
The urgency of now demands that we rise above petty identity debates and focus on what truly matters:
•Building infrastructure and industries that transform our economy
•Creating opportunities for our youth through education, innovation, and enterprise
•Speaking with one voice in the national and global discourse
•And above all, reclaiming our rightful place as a powerful and respected ethnic nation
We will not allow internal schisms to derail the collective aspirations of over five million Urhobo sons and daughters.
We must refuse to be divided because, divided, we are weak and vulnerable; united, we are a formidable force.
From Okpe to Agbarho, from Uvwie to Ughelli, from Abraka to Orogun, and beyond, we declare:
One People. One Voice. One Goal—The Advancement and Prosperity of the Urhobo Nation.
Let us therefore shut down this debate, not with anger or disdain, but with a renewed sense of purpose, historical clarity, and a common vision.
Let us move forward—together—as one Urhobo Nation, ready to write a new chapter of unity, influence, and progress.
Enough of the division. The time for unity is now.
Dr. Benson Uwheru, an Urhobo patriot, wrote from Lagos in Nigeria.
