By Francis Ewherido
Today, I have reasons again to quote the preamble of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) 2024 Constitution as amended: “Whereas the indigenous people of Urhobo Nation in Delta State are desirous of protecting and promoting the interest and wellbeing of the Urhobo Nation and its people; whereas it is desirable there be a body of Urhobo people capable of interacting with the various levels of government and other socio-cultural groups within Nigeria for the promotion of cultural, socioeconomic and political development as well as ethnic and political harmony within the context of a united Nigeria…”If you ruminate on this preamble, what comes to mind is commitment, patriotism, courage, selflessness, servant leadership, etc. These are the qualities people who intend to vie for offices in the UPU national executive should have.
I have also been involved in leadership of organisations and the church. It is very difficult to get people who are selfless. Even in the church, many people want to belong to the harvest committee and building committee. Don’t ask me why. We have an NGO in the church. It is all about service to the society and no single benefit for the members. The NGO pursues cases of the less privileged in court, support for petty traders, payment of school fees of students from less privileged homes and prison visitations. It is funded by the church and donations. When members have a reason to celebrate among themselves, they contribute money. No kobo is taken from the NGO purse. I have been a member for the past 25 years. New members are tough to come by. We get less than a new member every year and some have left, although some for genuine reasons. But harvest committees are full of members and volunteers every year. Selfless service is a scarce commodity.
But that is what being in UPU executive should be, hence the reference to the church. Why should people want to serve in the UPU executive? Ordinarily, I would say odavwer’Urhobo, to offer selfless service, have a fundamental vision to uplift the Urhobo Nation, ensure that the Urhobos get their due from government, especially the Delta State government; ensure that the Urhobos live at peace with their neighbours based on mutual respect, etc. Anybody who has this at heart will not be desperate to serve in the UPU executive nor take the UPU election as a do-or-die affair, because the tasks I enumerated above are enormous and equally require enormous sacrifices. But some of the things we see as we get closer to the elections make me wonder. I can’t even reveal all, but just two.
During the screening, it was widely reported that the forms of Chief Simeon Ohwofa and a couple of other aspirants could not be found. Luckily, they went with their acknowledged copies. That is absurd, tragic and shameful. But today’s article was prompted by what is going on in Ewu, my hometown. I wrote an article, “UPU ELECTION AND REBUILDING OF OKUAMA.” This article was published by some media outlets (UPU election and rebuilding of Okuama – By Francis Ewherido – TheNewsGuru, UPU Election And Rebuilding Of Okuamaby Francis Ewherido– Niger Delta Today, UPU Election And Rebuilding Of Okuama – Advocate). It was posted on some WhatsApp platforms, including Ewu WhatsApp platforms. Any well-meaning son or daughter of Ewu Kingdom should be happy with the plans to rebuild Okuama.
The article was posted in one of the platforms by Deacon Austin Ohwofaria, who was the camp commandant of the Okuama IDP Camp. He knows firsthand the pains of the Okuama people. Curiously, the article was deleted by the admin of the WhatsApp platform, Chief Ovis Uto, a former Ughelli South LGA chairman. Even more curious was the fact that Chief Uto was one of the contractors chosen by the Okuama people to handle the projects approved by the Delta State Government. As someone who knew what the Delta State Governor, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori did, I know he was directly in charge of the Okuama matter. He was behind some of the things some people claimed credit for. He decided Okuama people should decide on who to handle the projects. He insisted the contractors should come from the Ewu axis. Contrary to what some people are claiming, no Ewu person influenced the construction the government did. The governor took the decision and personally handled issues of the setting up of the Okuama IDP Camp. Initially, Okuama people rejected the setting up of the camp in Ewu because of what some of the people now making noise allegedly did to Okuama people when a previous camp was set in Ewu after the flood took over Okuama and sacked them. It took a lot of persuasion from the governor before Okuama people agreed to go to Okuama IDP camp in Ewu.
The chairman of the IDP camp, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, and the camp commandant, Austin Owhofaria ensured that what happened in the previous camp did not reoccur. That is why the governor is very happy with Ogbodo, Ohwafaria, Henry Ediyo and Sunny White who worked assiduously to ensure the success of the IDP camp. It is with the same zeal, Ohwafaria that made him to post my article on the platform. It’s not only that his post was deleted, as I am writing, they are trying to frame Owhofaria and put him behind bars. And they are allegedly using the military to carry out what should be a civil matter, if there is any matter at all, in Nigeria of 2025. What’s wrong with reporting him to the police whose duty it is if indeed he has committed any infractions? What about me who wrote the article? Digging deeper it’s now clear it has to do with the UPU election.
In the article, I stated my preference of candidates for the various positions thus: “President-General, Chief Simeon Ohwofa… Second PG, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo; General Secretary, Mr. Patrick Origho; Asst. General Secretary, Dr. Benson Uwheru; Publicity Secretary, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada; Treasurer, Prof. Dicta Ogisi; Financial Secretary, Prof. Rose Aziza; Legal Adviser, Dr. Brown Umukoro; Assistant Publicity Secretary, Chief Veronica Ajuebon and Auditor, Mr. Matthew Ogagavworia.”
The list allegedly offended Josephine Oduaran who wants to return as assistant publicity secretary of UPU. Now, let me make this clear. One, Josephine Oduaran is my Ewu sister. I can never deny that and I wish her well. Two, I never knew that she’s re-contesting for the position of assistant publicity secretary. But even if I knew, it would not have made any difference. I have stated it before that I am not supporting this team because they are personal friends. I am supporting them because of my core values. They also have the capacity to give the Urhobo Nation the UPU many well-meaning Urhobos desire. Three, Josephine Oduaran and her supporters are saying Ewu should support their own. Where is it in the new UPU constitution which the current UPU executive, of which she’s a member, gave to the Urhobo Nation that we must support candidates from their kingdoms?
Now, specifically to Josephine Oduaran, you want Ewu to support their own. Who did you work and vote for in the 2023 House of Assembly Election, where Chief John Oyibokwifi, an Ewu son, was the APC candidate? Let me leave out previous elections because my brother, Sen. Akpor Pius Ewherido was involved and he’s now late. Then some of you in PDP were shouting party is supreme and party loyalty all over Ewu and Otu-Jeremi. Why the cherry-picking? It’s party supremacy where Oyibokwifi is concerned, but Ewu should support their own because you want to return as the assistant publicity secretary. Sis, go to the field and campaign with your achievements and those of your UPU executive. You have the power of incumbency! I wish you the best, but allow people to exercise their freedom of speech and association.
And Chief Uto, you deleted my article on rebuilding Okuama where you handled some of the projects? It doesn’t make sense to me. Will you have the moral right to bid for jobs on rebuilding Okuama again when the time comes? Oboruworurunayovwiri.Ofowe.You allowed posts campaigning for candidates who are not from Ewu, yet you deleted mine. Is it that you feel I am not Ewu enough? M’omor’Okpor(Descendant of Okpor) from Emokpor Quarters. My maternal grandmother, Mrs. Eyovwunu Onotamedo, is the direct descendant of Ophori from Ekrur’ophori Quarters, all in Ewu-Otor. My mother grew up in Ewu after her family returned from Omoko, Rivers State, sequel to the death of her father, Ojiyovwire Onotamedo, who was paternally from Effurun-Otor Kingdom and maternally from Oweya in Unuame, Ewu. Her name is Ekpewhugbare. So, what exactly is the problem? Why did you delete my article on rebuilding Okuama? Prerogative of the admin? Fair enough.
Meanwhile, the harassment of Deacon Austin Ohwafaria must stop because any further harassment will be resisted with utmost vigour and strength of the law. We have a mantra in Ewu, “Eghereha hw’eghereka” (an Ewu person does not kill another Ewu person). That is what this harassment is amounting to. We have constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association and expression. Please respect them.
NB: My first ever newspaper publication was in The Guardian, 1985. That was 40 years ago since I started getting published. I am not a lawyer, but I studied media law extensively. I can smell slanderous, libelous and seditious materials miles away. I stand by everything I wrote here and in the article that which was deleted, and I am prepared to defend it in any court of law.
Francis Ewherido is a proud and bonafide son of Ewu (Eghereka)
