Musing Over The Role Of UPU In Urhobo Of Today

By Annabel Ogheneganre

The original mission of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, dating back to the 1930s, as highlighted in a document in 2016 by Prof Peter Ekeh on behalf of the Urhobo Historical Society, was enshrined in its name: progress. The motto of UPU – namely, “Unity Is Strength – was a means towards the end of attaining progress for all of the Urhobo people. The denotative value of the term, progress is forward or onward movement towards a destination. It has to do with development towards an improved or more advanced condition. The question we may need to ask ourselves is what could be the destination the current UPU leadership, under Chief Ese Gam Owe is taking Urhobo to?

The numerous projects that the Union undertook were intended to lead to progress for the Urhobo people. The goal of progress was ingrained in the bloodstream of UPU. The development of Urhobo College is an exemplar of the core mission of UPU because it was designed to bring progress to all Urhobo youth.

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Prof Peter Ekeh lamented in the piece under reference that ‘’Sadly, in the new era of the UPU, the notion of progress has fizzled out. The new mood seems to be one that gives the impression that UPU has done its work and that it is now time for UPU chieftains to celebrate and enjoy its successes. In the absence of any devotion to progress, a new slogan – Urhobo Ovuovo: “Urhobo Is One”– has become an end in itself, a fetish that has no further goal beyond its utterance’’.

If Ekeh were still on this side of the divide today, he would have realized that his lamentation came rather too early. UPU as it were as at 2025 seem to be comatose and in-fact non-existent.

Today, Urhobo is like a ship on high sea without a compass. We read and hear of Ohaeneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, and the Arewa nation taking stand on sundry national issues that affect the well being of their people, but the UPU seem to have been drunk to stupor. UNESCO has estimated that many languages will die out before the close of this century. The cruel verdict is that if Urhobo language does not die, its base will become smaller. Yet, Chief Ese Gam and his bunch exco are snoring their tenure away.

The current Exco came prepared to sleep and they are doing just that, sleeping very deeply while Urhobo language is facing threats of extinction. It is only an organization like UPU that can reverse such misfortune of the threats to Urhobo language by advocating the use and writing of Urhobo language in schools and at home inside Urhoboland and abroad. Besides that, a UPU that is alive to her responsibilities cannot rest while Urhobo children are being taught Itsekiri language in Schools in Urhobo areas of Warri.

Recall that the fight to separate “Western Urhobo” from the then “Jekri-Sobo” Division was fought and won by the UPU. From 1900 until the 1930s, the only portion of Urhoboland that was wholly within Urhobo boundaries was what was then known as Eastern Urhobo Division. The rest of Urhoboland, known in British Colonial geography as Western Urhobo, was governed together with the Itsekiri as “Jekri-Sobo” Native Authority, with Headquarters in Warri Township. It was largely dominated by Itsekiri chieftains. UPU demanded the separation of Western Urhobo from “Jekri-Sobo” Division. After much debate, the British authorities yielded to Urhobo request and pressure. This was granted and the headquarters of the new Western Urhobo Division was located at Orerokpe, leaving only Agbarha-Ame (nicknamed Agbassa by the British) and Okere-Urhobo in the Jekri Division.

It also took the UPU’s strong opposition to the British change of terms perhaps because of the difficulty in pronouncing some Urhobo double consonants. Urhobo was changed to Sobo, Urhiapele to Sapele, and Agbarha (in Warri) to Agbassah. UPU took strong exception to the labelling of our people as Sobo in British Colonial official records and insisted that they be recognized by their real and proper name of “Urhobo.” This battle was won in 1938. However, some Urhobo towns did not survive the experience, Idjerhe has lost its name to Jesse; Avwraka lost to Abraka; Uhwokori lost to Kokori; Ughienvwe lost to Jeremi; etc. Even Idjerhe was in Benin Division but UPU fought to return them to the Urhobo fold. The UPU and the Sapele Land Case between Okpe and Itsekiri was another milestone achievement of the body to the progress of Urhobo.

The question we may need to ask is what is the present UPU leadership doing to advance the cause of Urhobo in the present Delta state and Nigeria at large? What role has UPU played in ensuring Urhobo is properly safeguarded in the on-going wards delineation in Warri? The physical and psychological onslaught on our people in Warri by the Itsekiri should be a matter of serious concern to UPU that is alive to her responsibilities.

Indeed, these are not ordinary times in the UPU. There is a lot that is broken and the cries for repair and reform in this most venerable and premier organization of the Urhobo people have not abated. As observed by Prof Peter Ekeh, these are troubled times that require men of sterling character who can restore the Union to its old credibility and then embark on a new course of projects and activities that will update the UPU into the 21st century. Chief Ese Gam and his Exco must wake up to their responsibilities.

The trajectory of Urhobo leadership under the UPU lately has been such that cannot guarantee the credibility and integrity in action as in the days of Mukoro Mowoe. The way and manner the political class interfere in the selection or election of the leadership of the UPU does not guarantee the type of independence of mind to act on behalf of Urhobo without being manipulated by the politicians. The current UPU leadership lacks the courage to speak truth to power. Conventional politics has eroded the integrity of the body. Chief Ese Gam and his Exco owe their present positions to the government of the day.

The gravest danger staring Urhobo in the face is the modern-day trend of government interference in the selection of traditional rulers in our kingdoms. What obtains is that kingdoms are created at will and kings made often without recourse to well established institutional framework. This is not only dangerous to our traditional and cultural integrity, but is an assault on the collective well being of the people and the sanctity of their very existence. There should be a limit to government interference in some of these issues. Now, kings made by government and a UPU that defers to government at all times cannot guarantee the integrity of actions like in the days of Mukoro Mowoe.

Urhobo needs a UPU that can lead the way into the future and a desirable destination. UPU under Chief Ese Gam is not visible anywhere. Dr Ejiro Emuere is doing what UPU under Mukoro Mowoe did in his time. Whoever brought Chief Ese Gam into the picture must be an enemy of Urhobo. Despite the complaints of sundry malfeasances that trailed UPU under Chief Joe Omene, at least, he worked hard enough for Urhobo to be heard loud and clear all over Nigeria. There are many issues in Urhoboland deserving of UPU intervention and the only way for Urhobo to make progress is for the body to act with courage and not being gagged by mundane political considerations.

Annabel Ogheneganre writes from Abuja. (08074542421 SMS only or Whatsapp messages)