URM Is PDP’s Arrangement To Shortchange Urhobo In 2023, Says Umukoro

By John Tega/Daniel Dafe

The Secretary General, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Youth Wing, Worldwide, and a human rights activist, Comrade Efemena Umukoro, has said that no patriotic Urhobo indigene will partake in the inaugural public lecture to be organized by Urhobo Renaissance Movement (URM) tomorrow, October 1, 2019, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

According to him, Professor Onokheraye, former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Chief Mike Igini, a Commissioner with Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), boycotted the event by refusing to chair the occasion, adding that other prominent Urhobo scholars also declined chairing the event.

Speaking to Oasis Magazine (OM) during a phone conversation, Umukoro added: “URM is an arrangement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to shortchange Urhobo Nation and scuttle her dream again for the governorship position in 2023, saying that this group is the replacement for the failed Urhobo Political Forum (UPF) and this time masterminded by Professor Hope Eghagha, a former Delta commissioner in PDP.”

He called on Urhobo sons and daughters not to take URM seriously but read in between the lines to ascertain what their motives are, stressing that this movement cannot add value to Urhobo, but out to satisfy the selfish interest of a few.

Continuing, he wondered why before now Professors like Eghagha in Urhobo land did not use their exposure and education to intervene in the crisis that befell UPU.

“Now that 2023 is around the corner, they want to act like messiahs; but we know what their mission is and all Urhobo youths would vehemently resist them,” he said.

He added: “It is therefore imperative to note that the only recognised group who can speak on behalf of Urhobo people from 1903 till date is the UPU. Selfish Urhobo politicians must desist from trying to shortchange Urhobo Nation under the guise of selfish groups to promote selfish interest.”