Former chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Council and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Delta State, Dr Wilson Omene has backed the creation of Ethiope State will trigger rapid development of the Urhobo Nation.
Dr. Omene disclosed this at an interactive session with selected journalists at Mossogar, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He held that the creation of Ethiope State from Delta would stabilize the erosion of the Urhobo identity, tradition and political inclusion.
According to him, The constant marginalization of the Urhobo nation has made the people to lost their pride of place among the Nigeria ethnic nationalities
“The internal crises, political disunity, and lack of purposeful representation have rendered the once-vibrant Urhobo voice silent in national affairs.
“I actually woke up in deep thoughts about the way we have been going over the years and as a result, one is ashamed to identify him or herself as an Urhobo man or woman in the committee of friends.We’ve been turned into pawns by people that used to respect us,
“The values and accomplishments for which the Urhobo people, in the likes of late Senator David Dafinone, Chief Sanubi, and the Okumagba family of Warri were made as reference has drastically changed.
“We were rocking the sky — academically, in industry, in talent, but now, it’s so difficult to say we have people like that again,” he lamented.
Chief Omene further revealed that the challenges facing the Urhobo nation is caused by political parties and 80 percent of Urhobo politicians.
“We have become a laughing stock, even in a place where we are the majority. Our tradition is going down.”
“The map is there. On Saturday, there will be a public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on State Creation and Constitution Review. The Urhobo nation must rise and support this,” he said.
Throwing his weight behind the proposal for the creation of Ethiope State, Omene described it as a strategic move to reclaim the Urhobo rightful place in Nigeria political and economic structure.”
“We are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria and contribute the highest quota to the commonwealth of the state, yet we are silent.”
“You can’t create three states from Delta. If there must be one, it should be for the Urhobo, not Anioma. We are not enemies, but we must be fair. Equity, fair play, and justice must guide this process,” he insisted
He commended the Member representing Sapele, Okperin and Uvwie federal constituency at the House of Reps, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, for taking the legislative push for Ethiope State, and we are glad that the bill has passed both the first and second readings.
“The 10 Urhobo members of the State House of Assembly, UPU Leaders, and even Senator Ede Dafinone have signed on to this vision. We must not fail at this defining moment.
“A state of our own means three senatorial seats, nine federal constituencies, ministerial and ambassadorial slots. We cannot let these benefits slip by while we continue to play second fiddle in a state we built.” he declared.
On the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Omene opined that local content provisions must reflect the identity of host communities.
“If you’re dealing with Mosogar, let a Mosogar person be there; if it’s Oghara, let it be an Oghara man,and not someone from Ologbo or Itsekiri land. We are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria and contribute the highest quota to the com
monwealth of the state, yet we are silent.”
