RE: GOVERNORSHIP OF DELTA STATE 2023 OUR STAND; OUR CHOICE BY OLOROGUN (DR) MOSES OGHENERUME TAIGA LED FACTION OF THE URHOBO PROGRESS UNION (UPU).

OUR POSITION

The attention of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) world-wide has been drawn to a publication signed by Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga, President-General, UPU Worldwide, Chief Capt. (Dr) Anthony Onoharigho, 1st Deputy President-General, UPU Worldwide, Chief Godwin Notoma, Chairman, Forum of Presidents-General of 24 Urhobo Kingdoms, Dame Chief (Mrs) Christy Siakpere, President, UPU Women Wing and Comrade Ovie Ebireri, President, UPU Youth Wing allegedly on behalf of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide trending in both the main stream and the social media wherein the signatories of the said publication openly and publicly endorsed a particular *ASPIRANT* (NOT A CANDIDATE) of the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP as “… *the consensus choice of UPU, world-wide, for the collective interest of our dear Urhobo Nation”.*

In response to the said publication, we wish to state as follows:-

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) is made up of fourteen (14) elected officers for a term of three years and the past Presidents-General, Deputy Presidents-General and the National Secretaries as ex-officio members of the NEC. See Article 7 (P) of the UPU Constitution, 2005.

The other critical organs of the UPU are the Council of Representatives made up of two persons each from the twenty-four kingdoms of the Urhobo Nation, the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the Annual General Congress of the UPU. See Articles 3, 5, 11, 12 & 21 of the UPU Constitution, 2005.

The Forum of Presidents-General of the 24 Urhobo Kingdoms is unknown to the UPU Constitution, 2005.

Even though Articles 22 and 23 of the UPU Constitution recognize the existence of the Eghweya R’ Urhobo (Women Wing) and Ukoko R’ Okugbe R’ Ighele Urhobo (Youth Wing), they are not one of the critical organs of the UPU when it comes to decision making.

By the aims and objectives of the UPU as stated in the UPU Constitution, the UPU was established as a socio-cultural organization of the Urhobo Nation to protect the economic, social and political interest of the Urhobo people.

The UPU is not a political Party or Association and Article 10 (12) of the UPU Constitution, 2005 specifically bars and prohibits the President-General from being involve in partisan politics.

The UPU is not a member or an affiliate member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. During the 2017, annual Urhobo National Congress, Olorogun Moses Taiga orchestrated the removal of Chief Osiobe Okotie from office as the 1st Deputy President-General of the UPU because of his involvement in partisan politics by declaring his interest to contest for the office of the Governor of Delta State under the Platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and he was replaced with Chief Francis Ifie.

The NEC of the UPU either separately or collectively with the Council of Representatives, Board of Trustees, didn’t at anytime meet to discuss the issue of the endorsement of any *ASPIRANT* of any Political Party, nay, the PDP and the NEC of the UPU didn’t at anytime whatsoever agree, adopt or resolve to endorse a particular *ASPIRANT* (NOT A CANDIDATE) of the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP as “…the consensus choice of UPU, world-wide, for the collective interest of our dear Urhobo Nation”.

The NEC of the UPU in conjunction with the Council of Representatives at one of her meetings ONLY resolved to set up a committee headed by Chief Capt (Dr) Anthony Onoharigho, the 1st Deputy President-General of the UPU to interface with all critical stakeholders in Delta State to ensure that Delta Central Senatorial District produce the next governor of Delta State in 2023.

Critical position of the UPU on any topical national issue as expressed by the UPU in any form of publication is signed either by the President-General and the National Publicity Secretary and or the President-General and the National Secretary and or the President-General, the National Secretary and the National Publicity Secretary.

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The Press statement purportedly endorsing a particular *ASPIRANT* (NOT A CANDIDATE) of the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP as “…the consensus choice of UPU, world-wide, for the collective interest of our dear Urhobo Nation” strangely has no signatures and or the names of the National Secretary and the National Publicity Secretary of the UPU.

It is strange and very disturbing for the UPU to openly endorse an *ASPIRANT* of a Political Party (PDP) in that:-

An *ASPIRANT* is a person who has merely indicated an interest to contest for an office; in this case the governor of Delta State.

In pursuance of his aspiration, he purchases the expression of interest forms of that office, in this case from the PDP.

The PDP has slated 21st April, 2022 for the screening of her gubernatorial ASPIRANTS.

The PDP has not screened and cleared the endorsed *ASPIRANT* of the Olorogun Moses Taiga led faction of the UPU to contest for the governor of Delta State and there is no guarantee that the endorsed ASPIRANT will be cleared by the PDP to contest

Political Parties primary elections to pick their candidates according to the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 is strictly the internal affairs of the political Parties and those who can participate in the said primary elections are strictly registered and card carrying members of such political parties. Is the UPU a card carrying member of the PDP? Are all members of the Urhobo Nation which Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga purports to protect and defend members of the PDP?

Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga and his co-travelers mistakes Political Parties primary election organize for aspirants for the sole purpose of electing a CANDIDATE for a general election organized by INEC for CANDIDATES of different Political Parties to elect a candidate for an elective position. There is difference between primary election and general election and an ASPIRANT and a CANDIDATE.

ANOTHER VERY DISTURBING ASPECT OF THE OLOROGUN (DR) MOSES OGHENERUME TAIGA PRESS STATEMENT IS CONTAINED AT PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE SAID PUBLICATION, WHEREIN OLOROGUN (DR) MOSES OGHENERUME TAIGA STATED THUS:-

“ *We want to appeal to our Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to forgive Olorogun David Edevbie for any perceived transgression. To forgive is divine. No individual is perfect. Your Excellency, we also urge you to kindly allow the Urhobo Nation to choose the candidate of their preference, please. We can assure Your Excellency, that if considered necessary, we, as Urhobos, will act as sureties of Olorogun David Edevbie while in office…”*

The dangerous implication of the above statement are as follows:-

a) Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga is trying and have indeed pitched the Urhobo Nation against His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa by openly castigating him of being a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of the Urhobo Nation in purportedly trying to choose or impose a candidate on the Urhobo Nation.

The said statement is inciting and incendiary and thus capable of provoking ethnic hatred in a multi ethnic State like Delta State. In fact, Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga have profiled His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for ethnic attack and hatred.

By the said statement, Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga have also profiled the Delta North Senatorial District, particularly, the *Ikas* for ethnic attack and hatred.

To say His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa should “… *forgive Olorogun David Edevbie* ” means that without hearing from His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga has already concluded that His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is witch hurting Olorogun David Edevbie in his legitimate and constitutional quest to be the governor of Delta State. What is “… *perceived transgression* ”? Without giving fair hearing to His Excellency, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga have concluded that Olorogun David Edevbie has done nothing wrong against the Governor.

Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga wants the Urhobo Nation to stand as surety to Olorogun David Edevbie. Who will stand as surety for DSP Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC and other aspirants?

Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga have sank the UPU so low to the extent that the UPU can now condescend to the extent of the Urhobo Nation standing as a surety for an aspirant of a particular Political Party.

*CONCLUSION*

How did the Urhobo Nation get to this disturbing level? Even past endorsements of candidates by the UPU for general elections have always polarized the Urhobo nation but unfortunately, Olorogun (Dr) Moses Oghenerume Taiga have even taken us back by endorsing an *ASPIRANT* that has not been screened and cleared by the PDP.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing, we wish to inform the general public to disregard the said publication as being fraudulent and deceitful.

We appeal to the Urhobo nation to be more united in this trying period.

God bless.

SIGNED
_________________________
Chief Isaacs Oghenerhoro Itebu
National Legal Adviser, UPU.