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The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) as part of activities to mark its 90th anniversary on Friday honoured a number of prominent sons and daughters of the Urhobo nation.
Among those honoured at the 90th anniversary of the UPU are pioneer nationalists and icons of the Union; legends of industry, enterprise and other professions; legends in politics and public service, and pioneers and proprietors in education.
Others are distinguished scholars and writers; outstanding Urhobo sportsmen and women; arts, music and media; young pacesetters and innovators; distinguished daughters of Urhobo, and Governors of Urhobo extraction (elected and appointed).
Speaking during the award ceremony that held at Urhobo Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge-Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa commended the UPU for the honour done to the illustrious sons and daughters of the Urhobo nation.
Governor Okowa, while showering praises on the people of Urhobo nation for their immense support and contributions to the development of the State in particular and the country at large, said the award would help in encouraging others to put in their best in the growth and development of the nation.
He stressed that the UPU had, as a socio-cultural group and through its human resources, played a remarkable role in the development of the state and Nigeria in the 90 years of its existence.
According to him, UPU has played a major role in the advancement of not just the Urhobo nation but the advancement of Delta and Nigeria.
The Governor thanked the leadership of the union for using its relationship with the people to ensure peace and organise them for purposeful development and being of great assistance to any government in power in the state.
“I know the role the UPU has been playing in helping to build peace in Urhoboland and in trying also to extend hand of friendship to other ethnic groups across the state.
“By the time our people in Delta State relate as one, then you would have helped government to solve its problems because once you have been able to establish peace it becomes much easier to develop the state,” he said.
Okowa acknowledged the cordial relationship between the Urhobos and their neighbours, and said that a hand of friendship was very important “because he who extends hand of friendship wants to have a friend.”
“I don’t believe that we must fight everything through; sometimes a kind word or a conversation can help you to get to where you want to be,” he said.
He admonished governorship aspirants to exercise restraints in their consultations and campaigns.
“I want to appeal to our sons and daughters who seek to be governor. It is usually best when you approach it on the basis of friendship. It is usually best that we are choosy on the kind of words that we use in public so that we don’t start any round of fights.
“No matter how provoked, any person aspiring to the position of leadership must learn to control his anger and speak peacefully to people because in so doing, he attracts friends to himself,” he said.
He called on Urhobo people to prune down the number of aspirants in the governorship race, advising that it was in their best interest to reduce the numbers.
“When there are too many sons and daughters in a race, it creates its own challenge and I believe that the elders have understood this. There is a need to trim down and I believe that the time is now,” Okowa added.
Meanwhile, the President-General of the UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga, said that UPU was celebrating 90 years, a decade short of a century, adding that the union was Nigeria’s oldest surviving socio-cultural organisation.
He said that UPU saw education as the light that would illuminate Urhoboland and liberate its people assuring that UPU was working on bequeathing an economic legacy to future generations with the proposed establishment of Okugbe Microfinance Bank which was awaiting operational license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Taiga said that the Urhobos would build alliances with other ethnic nationalities in the South-south and beyond to proffer a new destiny for Nigeria as the nation tottered to a new beginning.
“While we do not support secessionist agitations, we align with the call for the restructuring of Nigeria in line with the tenets of federalism. We support the call for the relocation of the headquarters of all oil companies to the Niger Delta and the call for election results to be transmitted electronically.
“Urhobos are in support of states’ collection of Value Added Tax (VAT), the enactment of Anti-Open Grazing Laws, the establishment of State Police and other such progressive factors that will make Nigeria great again,” he stated.
LIST OF UPU @ 90 AWARDEES
CATEGORY 1: PIONEER NATIONALISTS AND UPU ICONS
- Chief Ovedje Sadjere
- HRM Onajite Igere Adjara III
- Hon Justice Joseph Akpovi
- HRM Richard Layeguen Ogbon Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom
- Mr. George Akaghoro
- Chief Ogheneakpobo Adjekughele
CATEGORY 2: LEGENDS OF INDUSTRY, ENTERPRISE AND THE PROFESSIONS
- Chief Patrick Gbinije
- AIG Dickson Sanomi
- Chief Edward Esiso
- Chief W. T. Odibo
CATEGORY 3: LEGENDS IN POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE
- Deacon Gamaliel Onosode
- Engr. Damrere Dede
- Chief G. N. O. Sefia
- Major General Felix Mujakperuo
- Chief Richard Oduaran
CATEGORY 4: PIONEERS AND PROPRIETORS IN EDUCATION
- Ezekiel Igho
- Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey
- Dr. Mayirue Kolagbodi
- Professor F. M. A. Ukoli
- Chief A. T. Rerri
- Chief Johnson Barovbe
CATEGORY 5: DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS AND WRITERS
- Professor Onigu Otite
- Professor Peter Ekeh
- Professor David Okpako
- Professor Isidore Okpewho
- Chief Daniel Obiomah
- Professor Tanure Ojaide
CATEGORY 6: OUTSTANDING SPORTS MEN AND WOMEN
- Professor Ajovi Scot-Emuakpor
- Toni Urhobo
- Blessing Okagbare
- Ese Brume
CATEGORY 7: ARTS, MUSIC AND MEDIA
- Dr. Alex Ibru
- Andy Akporugo
- Dr. Peter Igho
- Chief Ogute Ottan
- Mr. Ted Mukoro
- Daniel Iriferi (Sally Young)
CATEGORY 8: YOUNG PACE SETTERS AND INNOVATORS
- Clement Mudiaga Enajemo
- Benson Uwheru
CATEGORY 9: DISTIGUISHED DAUGHTERS OF URHOBO
- Mrs. Joan Ibuje
- Mrs. Mary Lakeru (nee Mowoe)
- Chief (Mrs) Lady Agbaza
- Chief (Mrs) Christiana Siakpere
- Chief (Mrs) Victoria Agodo
- Chief (Mrs) Margaret Unukegwo
- Professor (Mrs) Rose Aziza
CATEGORY 10: GOVERNORS OF URHOBO EXTRACTION (ELECTED AND APPOINTED)
- Chief Samuel Jereton Mariere (Midwest)
- Major General David Ejoor (Midwest)
- Brigadier Harris Eghagha (Ogun)
- Olorogun Felix Ibru (Delta)
- Air Vice Marshal Frank Ajobena (Abia)
- Major General Patrick Aziza (Kebbi)
- Navy Commodore Temi Ejoor (Abia and Enugu)
- Colonel Mike Torey (Ondo)
- Brigadier Dominic Oneya (Benue and Kano)
- Chief James Ibori (Delta)