The Urhobo Youth Leaders Association has protested against some Urhobo political elements who have been using the name of Urhobo to always attack the Ifeanyi Okowa administration and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori.

The youths who protested to the Urhobo Cultural Centre along the Okere Road in Warri South Local Government Area of the state with placards with inscriptions: “Okowa, a man to trust”, “Sheriff, the Unifier”, ‘Sheriff is our Governor ”, Okowa emergence as VP is God’s Designed”, Okowa loves Urhobos”, “Derivation fund”, well utilised” and others, called on the leadership of UPU to call to order persons who believed in dragging their Urhobo brother down because of primitive quest for power.

In a protest speech signed by Samuel Oghotomo, President, Urhobo Youth Leaders Association; Mr. Peter Agbaja Esq,


PRO and Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, Board of Trustee/Leader of the association, said the protest was because of the activities of some Urhobo political elements who used the name of Urhobo to always attack the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led-government.

In the speech read by Chief Samuel Oghotomo, it stated that “just recently, one Efemena Umukoro criminally used the name of UPU to protest against the Okowa purposeful and focused government that has demonstrated equitable utilisation and distribution of the state resources in the three senatorial districts.”

“This is worrisome because the recurrence of this act is not welcome. It is highly condemnable in its entirety. It is believed to the understanding of UYLA that those actions and activities are being sponsored by enemies of the state who want to force themselves on Deltans and they will never see the light of the day because God is above all.

“Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is our Urhobo son. His wife is Urhobo and he has lived all his life here in Urhoboland. Those attacking him are also Urhobos. This is clear and total demonstration of our disunity and lack of oneness.

“Political campaigns should be issue- based. This campaign of calumny, character assassination of brothers against brothers is against the progress and dignity of Urhobo as a nation. We are here to urge the UPU as the apex body to wade into this matter and call to order these persons who believe in dragging their Urhobo brother down because of primitive quest for power.

“Today, the elections cases in court, the Urhobo vs Urhobo can account for 60 percent of it. Urhobo was not like this in the days of Late Mukoro Moweo. If it was like this, Urhobo could not had achieved the creation of Urhobo College and built the Urhobo House in Okere warri.

“We in Urhobo Youth Leaders Association are satisfied with the Okowa Government in terms of the utilisation of the state resources as well as the 13 percent derivation funds. Okowa promised to return power to the Urhobos of Delta Central and he has kept to his promise. The urhobo should appreciate him instead of blackmailing and attacking him,” he added.

“We use this medium to apologize to our dear governor to please ignore all the attacks from those black legs in our midst. Urhobo will pay him or appreciate him with votes on February 25, 2023. We appeal to all Urhobos to come out en-mass to support the PDP in all the coming elections.

In response, President General of Urhobo Progress Union, Chief Ese Owe, said the present UPU is grassroots oriented and they were ready to receive all Urhobos at all times.

“It is the cross we volunteered to carry and we are ready and prepared to carry it successfully.

“The UPU has no youth wing presently since after our election. It is now we are meeting to take some certain decisions. Unfortunately, in the heat of that meeting, you came. I welcome the protest fundamentally because it is peaceful.

“We the Urhobos take pleasure in pulling down our people. The present UPU will not accept it. It is enough of the ‘Pull Him Down’ syndrome. Primary elections are over. You should all go about your campaigns peacefully.

“The beauty of this coming election is that an Urhobo man must emerged Governor of Delta State. If you go to Asaba and you start wearing a gab that doesn’t befit your status, the UPU is alive and alert at all times to derobe you of that gab. That gab of parading yourself as president of UPU youth wing has not and can never receive our blessings,” He said .

“As to the issue of the governor of Delta State, at this moment, Okowa is the Governor of Delta State and he must be accorded with every regard and respect at all times. Before now, when our son, Chief James Onanefe Ibori was the governor, his (Okowa) people accorded same respect for him; same was accorded Uduaghan. So, we expect our people to do same to Okowa,” he added.