UPU Youth Wing Exco Dissolution: Apologise To Urhobo Youths, Not Being Shocked, Umukoro Tells Anidi

By Daniel Dafe

The outgoing Secretary of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Youth Wing, Comrade Efemena Umukoro, has said that the dissolution of the executive of the youth wing by the parent body was long overdue, saying that Louis Anidi should rather apologise to Urhobo youths and not express shock as he stated in a publication by an online platform, Oasis Magazine (OM).

Umukoro spoke to OM, during a phone conversation earlier today.

According to him, the move by the National Executive of UPU is a welcomed development, adding that “not again will an individual who does not have the interest of Urhobo Nation sit over the affairs of the youth body.”

He said: “Before now you will recall how I was assaulted and almost assassinated by the president over administrative issues. The parent body in their own wisdom after 17 kingdom members signed an impeachment order against the president, the PG then declined our request.

“Now how can the Urhobo Youth president who ought to promote Urhobo Nation by dress code, behaviour and approach to issues become so lousy that the only time he talks and comes out is when money is involved? How can an Urhobo youth president go to a traditional occasion with the PG and he is dressed in a jeans trouser and shirt? What is he telling other ethnic nationalities and Urhobo Nation? Urhobo youths look up to us as role models in our dress code, public attitude and how we speak.

“We have not had it this bad in UPU youth wing. In the over one year we served there was no single project that we did. I don’t want to talk much in public but if he pushes me out I shall come out with the documentation of the impeachment order and other facts and I believe he will not like it.”

Furthermore, he congratulated Anthony Igho Ovie, saying that he has no doubt that he (Ovie) will deliver while he leads the Urhobo youths once again after his tenure then that witnessed progress for Urhobo youths and the nation in general.

He continued: “Igho is a bridge builder, a peace maker and intellectually capable. He will do exploits. In his first tenure, we had the first ever Urhobo youth summit and I functioned as the publicity secretary then.”

Speaking further, he apologized to the Urhobo Nation for giving them a bad president.

Continuing, he said: “I played a major role to enthrone Anidi and I promise that this will not happen again. I also implore him to be civilized and also go out to apologise to Urhobo nation. As a team, we failed, but as an individual I did so many good things. I installed many SUG presidents in Urhobo land. I can boldly say I have promoted Urhobo culture overtime. Look at the roles I played in the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh crisis where I was able to visit the troubled community. Even in the Elozino saga I mobilized Urhobo youths and we stood firm against injustice and even visited the family of the deceased.

“I will be glad to also assist Ovie Igho Anthony any way I can.”