Okagbare Blames Failed Move To Unite Two Factions Of UPU Youthwing On Umukoro For Shunning Peace Meeting

…Ukuanovwe Defends Him, Says His Absence, Not Intentional
By Daniel Dafe, Abraka
A vibrant Urhobo youth leader, Ochuko Okagbare, has blamed the failed move to unite the two factions of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Youthwing on Comrade Efemena Umukoro, saying that he (Efemena) boycotted the much anticipated peace meeting.

Umukoro is the President of the UPU Youthwing under Chief Joe Omene.

Okagbare in an open letter on Monday to Urhobo youths worldwide, said Comrade Efemena Umukoro failed to show up for a peace meeting scheduled to hold on Valentine’s Day at Warri.

Okagbare said that the arrangement followed a meeting he had with Ovie Ebireri, President of the UPU Youth Wing under the parent body leadership of Olorogun Moses Taiga.

He said the meeting with Ebireri on the said day was an invitation from the president, adding that the meeting lasted for hours and dwelt on the progress and unity of Urhobo youths worldwide.

He added: “After the deliberation, I was mandated by the President and her executives to reach out to Comr. Efemena Umukoro, the president under the leadership of Olorogun Joe Omene for the purpose of restoring love, peace and unity in UPU and among urhobo youths Worldwide.”

Continuing, he said immediately he engaged Comr. Umukoro through Barr. Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe because his phone numbers were not connecting for days.

He continued: “After series of engagement, Umukoro okayed the meeting for him and Comr. Ovie Ebireri to have a synergy meeting on how Urhobo youths could move beyond their various individual differences and harmonize both executives for the purpose of working for the progress and unity of Urhobo youths under one leadership. We believe this would also bring an end to the disunity between the parent body if it could be achieved.

“In continuation of the unity process, a meeting venue, date and time was fixed. PTI conference center was the venue, yesterday Valentine’s day 14/2/2021 was the date while 2pm was the proposed time. Both parties agreed that the arrangement was okay and promised to attend for the purpose of bringing lasting peace and unity to Urhobo youths worldwide.

“The delegation of Comr. Ovie Ebireri arrived the venue of the meeting some minutes before the proposed time. Comr. Umukoro Efemena was nowhere to be found. We waited for some minutes and still no sign of him and his delegation. I became furious and had to call Barr. Ogedegbe who interfaced with Comr. Umukoro Efemena. He informed me on phone that he’s on his way to the venue and that Comr. Efemena and his delegation will join the meeting as promised.
Okagbare adds that: “Barr. Ogedegbe arrived the venue of the meeting as promised on phone. We sat for the meeting awaiting the arrival of Comr. Efemena. At about 3:30pm Barr Ogedegbe called Efemena on phone and he responded by saying that he’s close to the venue.”

This, he said was the same response Umukoro gave 2 hours back, as he wondered how long it takes for someone to drive from Abraka to Warri ?

“Comr. Efemena boycotted the meeting after he agreed to attend. This has shown that he’s a lover of disunity and that he’s benefiting from it,” Okagbare said in his letter.

“Those whom were present at the meeting felt insulted and left the venue vowing never to have any dealings whatsoever with Comr. Umukoro Efemena aka Akima. It was then concluded that he never wanted the unity meeting to take place because of his selfish desires.

“Comr. Umukoro Efemena has exhibited same character some years back when he was Secretary to Comr. Louis Anidi. Some of us knew he would exhibit same character due to our past experience with him. But some were of the opinion that he would have changed after so many years. He disappointed those that spoke on his behalf” he opined.

Furthermore, he hailed Comr. Ovie Ebireri, adding that “he has demonstrated that he’s a man of peace and unity.”

He urged Urhobo youths to move forward with Comr. Ovie Ebireri, saying that he is willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to unite Urhobo youths and deliver to them the prosperity their deserves.

Meanwhile, one of the executive members under Umukoro, Prince Godstime Ukuanovwe, has exonerated him of any wrong doing.

ALSO READ: Kidnappers Demand N10M For Abducted Couple In Delta

In a statement sent to Oasis Magazine (OM), Ukuanovwe who is the Publicity Secretary, said: “I find it very discomforting trolling someone for failing to show up at a reconciliation meeting.

“As an individual I believe that there’s no price too big to pay for peace. If the intention of the conveners of the said reconciliation meeting is genuine, I see no reason for this trolling game.

“The first thing to do since he Comr Umukoro did not show up is to reach out to him and know the reason for his absence despite the schedule. Thereafter you look out for his opinion and work towards it.

“We at the Umukoro Efemena Kelly led UPU Youthwing are more keen in reconciliation than any other group. We have paid the ultimate price for peace by fairing our entire Executives structure to Abuja for a reconciliation meeting at the instance of Dr. Rufus Ebegba, the DG of National Biosafety Management Agency Abuja. Our counterparts refused to show up and yet we did not troll them.

“Another instance was when the Urhobo World United made a reconciliation move. We yet again showed up, again our counterparts refused to show up. Nobody trolled anybody with words or blame game.

“It will interest you all to know that Umukoro Kelly Efemena has held meetings with Ovie Ebireri one which I’m aware of and present was at ShopRite Warri.”

He recalled how the Umukoro Efemena Kelly led UPU Youthwing upon returning from Abuja made moves to meet with same Ovie Ebireri which Ovie picked the Warri Venue but later made a last minute change of venue when they were already at Warri to Agbarho.

He said at the time they got to Agbarho, same Ovie refused to take calls and at the end, the meeting did not hold, stressing that they kept their cool and nobody trolled anybody.

His statement said further that Ohuko Okagbare should be more concerned in sharing the information progress of the Office of the DSP where he’s an aide.

“On the said day of the meeting was my swearing in as Publicity Secretary of the Oruarivie-Abraka Youths Council Worldwide, my Abraka ancestral home and there’s no way a ceremony of such sort would hold and I won’t hold my President back with me to celebrate with me.

“If this reconciliatory group is for the overall interest of the Urhobo with no hidden motive, I challenge them having seen the earliest peace record to reconvene with proper communication to all those involved because there’s no price too big to pay for peace,” he averred.

See full text of unedited letter written by Okagbare below:
LETTER TO URHOBO YOUTHS WORLDWIDE:
My dear brother’s and sisters,
Am writing to inform you of my contributions and that of others towards the unity of Urhobo Youth body (UPU Youth Wing Worldwide).

On the 7th of February, 2021 i was invited for a meeting by Comr. Ovie Ebireri the UPU Youth Wing President Under the parent body leadership of Olorogun Moses taiga. The meeting lasted for hours as we deliberate on the progress and unity of Urhobo youths Worldwide. After the deliberation i was mandated by the President and her Executives to reach out to Comr. Umukoro Efemena the president under the leadership of Olorogun Joe Omene for the purpose of restoring love, peace and unity in UPU and among urhobo youths Worldwide.

Immediately after the meeting i carried out my assignment by engaging Comr. Umukoro Efemena through Barr. Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe due to that fact that Efemena phone numbers were not connecting for days. I was later informed that he lost he phones.

After series of engagement he okayed the meeting for him and Comr. Ovie Ebireri to have a synergy meeting on how urhobo youths could move beyond their various individual differences and harmonize both Executives for the purpose of working for the progress and unity of Urhobo youths under one leadership. We believe this would also bring an end to the disunity between the parent body if it could be achieved.

In continuation of the unity process, a meeting venue, date and time was fixed. PTI conference center was the venue, yesterday Valentine’s day 14/2/2021 was the date while 2pm was the proposed time. Both parties agreed that the arrangement was okay and promised to attend for the purpose of bringing lasting peace and unity to urhobo youths worldwide. Urhobo youths would have celebrated love among themselves on valentine’s day but something else happened.

The Delegation of Comr. Ovie Ebireri arrived the venue of the meeting some minutes before the proposed time. Comr. Umukoro Efemena was no where to be found. We waited for some minutes and still no sign of him and his Delegation. I became furious and had to call Barr. Ogedegbe who inter faced with Comr. Umukoro Efemena. He informed me on phone that he’s on his way to the venue and that Comr. Efemena and his Delegation will join the meeting as promised. I said okay, Barr. Ogedegbe arrived the venue of the meeting as promised on phone. We sat for the meeting awaiting the arrival of Comr. Efemena. At about 3:30pm Barr Ogedegbe called Efemena on phone and he responded by saying that he’s close to the venue. The same responds he gave 2hrs back. How long doesn’t takes for someone to drive from Abraka to warri ? Comr. Efemena boycotted the meeting after he agreed to attend. This has shown that he’s a lover of disunity and that he’s benefiting from it.

Those whom were present at the meeting felt insulted and left the venue vowing never to have any dealings whatsoever with Comr. Umukoro Efemena aka Akima. It was then concluded that he never wanted the unity meeting to take place because of his selfish desires.

Comr. Umukoro Efemena has exhibited same character some years back when he was Secretary to Comr. Louis Anidi. Some of us knew he would exhibit same character due to our past experience with him. But some where of the opinion that he would have changed after so many years. He disappointed those that spoke on his behalf.

It’s so unfortunate that some persons whom are claiming to be Youth leaders are just parading themselves to deceive urhobo people that he’s for the people rather he’s against the people. What does it take for you to meet with someone who want’s the unity and progress of urhobo youths and not that of his family members.

I want to State here and now that Comr. Ovie Ebireri has demonstrated yesterday that he’s a man of peace and unity. He’s leadership attributes has shown to Urhobo youths that he’s worthy of their trust and followership.

Urhobo youths let’s move forward with Comr. Ovie Ebireri the UPU Youth Wing President with the interest of urhobo youths at heart. He’s willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to unite urhobo youths and deliver to them the prosperity their deserves.

When others were at home celebrating valentine with their wives and children, we choose to pursue the unity and progress of urhobo youths thinking the spirit of valentine “Love” will help us achieve our course. If can’t sacrifice then you are not worthy of a leadership position.

Yours faithful in service,
Hon. Ochuko Okagbare
🚩15/2/2021