UPU Election And The Quest For Urhobo Rebirth

By Annabel Ogheneganre

Since the establishment of the Urhobo Progress Union with Chief Omarohwovo Okoro as pioneer President General, the Urhobo nation have been led by different personalities who have given their best to propel Urhobo to greater heights. The current leader, Chief Ese Gam is the 14th president general of UPU while UPU under Mukoro Mowoe has generally been applauded as the golden era of the union.

UPU was established with Chief Omarohwovo Okoro as the founding President General from 1931 to 1935. Chief Mukoro Mowoe succeeded him and was PG from 1935 to 1948, then Chief John Okpodu from 1950 to 1957, while Chief Jabin Obahor led UPU from 1957 to 1961. Chief T.E.A Salubi was PG from 1981 to 1983, then Chief Fred Esiri from 1983 to 1998. In 1998, Chief James Edewor served briefly as UPU President General before General Chief David Ejoor assumed office as President General until 1999 when former Governor James Ibori intervened in the leadership of the UPU and brokered a new leadership under Chief Benjamin Okumagba from 1999 to 2007.

Olorogun Felix Ibru became President General from 2007 to 2010 when General Patrick Aziza was elected for a term of 4 years from 2010 to 2014. In 2014, Chief Joe Omene assumed the leadership of the UPU till 2017 when Olorogun Moses Taiga came into the picture from 2017 to 2022. The current leadership was elected in 2022 and will serve out their tenure in the first week of December 2025 when fresh elections will be held.

Under Mukoro Mowoe, Urhobo College Effurun was established to cater for the academic needs of the people. UPU instituted scholarships that sent many bright Urhobo stars to be educated abroad. The schools established by Mowoe’s leadership broaden the academic space and give opportunities for many Urhobo youngsters to pursue their dreams. Many of these are now leaders in Nigeria today in their respective fields. That is what leadership was and should be about. Such patriotism and selfless initiatives are lacking in the Urhobo nation of today.

Under Mukoro Mowoe as President General and Chief Jereton Samuel Mariere as Secretary General, Urhobo fought the onslaught from the Itsekiri nation over the ownership of Sapele. They won, and Sapele is today an Urhobo town. There are many other battles fought and won for Urhobo under Mowoe. Under Benjamin Okumagba, for instance, Urhobo stood tall as the King of the jungle, stamping the authority of the largest ethnic group in Delta state in the political space. Urhobo was respected because the man spoke with authority when it mattered most. General Patrick Aziza was also a strong character in the leadership of Urhobo. Then came Chief Joe Omene, who spoke with commanding energy and verve. He walked up to then-President Goodluck Jonathan and placed sundry demands on the presidency. He was able to stand before Kings and nobles, pursued those who violated Ese Oruru in Bayelsa state, overtook and chased them into prison. That was leadership despite his shortcomings.

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As I said in a piece earlier this year, ‘’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 organisation 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 have not impressed and their failure is glaring to all’’. To bargain for another term for Ese Gam and his bunch of indolent EXCO is the greatest disservice any man can negotiate for Urhobo at this auspicious time.
I want to insist that the current Exco came prepared to sleep and they did just that, sleeping very deeply while Urhobo language and people faced sundry threats for different reasons. That is the reason why an alternative MUST be sought for a UPU that can defend Urhobo into the future. The only available alternative is Sir Chief Simeon Owhofa from Uwheru, the former President of Urhobo Social Club.
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Chief Simeon Owhofa has been a key player in the pursuit of Urhobo interests in Lagos. He had invested his deep financial war chest to defend Urhobo when it mattered most. When it was time to negotiate a new leadership for UPU in 2017, the Urhobo Social Club was a major organ for that project. They worked with the Urhobo monarchs, and that goal was achieved. Like Olorogun Moses Taiga and even the current PG, Chief Ese Gam, Owhofa may not have been very visible in Urhobo affairs before now but his patriotic energy is not in doubt. Chief Simeon Owhofa is a known name as a highly successful Urhobo industrialist and business guru in Lagos.
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Olorogun Moses Taiga leadership, with Chief Ese Gam as Secretary General conceived an Urhobo University, and a Micro-Finance Bank; none of these could see the light of day under Ese Gam as PG. Chief Simeon Ohwofa will not go into any enterprise and abandon same mid-sea. The idea of having a University must now be on hold because of the moratorium placed on the establishment of Universities by the Tinubu administration. This setback is due, of course, to the lack of patriotic zeal to pursue Urhobo interests under Ese Gam. He may have served the interests of those who brought him, but to the average Urhobo man, the current UPU leadership failed woefully, and Ese Gam must not be rewarded with another term in office.

As the MD/Chairman of Nutrivitas Limited and O.M Simons (Nig.) Ltd, Chief Simeon Ohwofa is an employer of labour who has given scholarships to several Uwheru and Urhobo students in several institutions of learning in Nigeria. He is a philanthropist who has invested heavily in the welfare of thousands of Urhobo people who are fortunate to meet with him. He has donated to charity and key projects of concern for Urhobo progress, and he certainly will make a difference in the UPU leadership. Ese Gam must not happen to Urhobo again!

Okuama was reduced to rubble, and Ese Gam and his team could not utter a word. A lot of Okuama leaders are still in military detention to date. We need new leadership that could reinvent the Mukoro Mowoe energy for Urhobo progress. Ese Gam has no moral justification to campaign for another term after his dismal first term. His carriage and appearance do not even instil confidence in followers. He failed as Secretary General, and he has failed again as President General of our revered UPU. Urhobo needs Chief Simeon Ohwofa to help drive a new cause that will restore the UPU that was once respected and admired.

Annabel Ogheneganre writes from Abuja.