By Annabel Ogheneganre
On Wednesday June 4, 2025, one of the worst fears of the Aladja people in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Half of the entire space known and called Aladja community has been ceded to Isaba Community, a small Ijaw enclave which has been pushing Aladja for a number of years now.
With this Apex court decision, the map of Urhobo has been altered under the watch of Chief Ese Gam, President General of the Urhobo Progress Union.
Under the Late Mukoro Mowoe, this will not happen. All the war arsenals and contact available to Urhobo would be deployed to protect every Urhobo territory. But not with Ese Gam. All the political bigwigs in Aladja failed because they failed to appreciate the fact that an injury to one is an injury to all.
A large expanse of land which hitherto belonged to the Igbo family of Aladja is what has been taken by Ijaw nation. That battle was never an Isaba battle. The entire Ijaw nation stood by them from the High Court to the Supreme Court.
That is one of my fears for 2031. Many Urhobo political leaders, because of personal interests, have started dancing around the Tompolos and other Ijaw elements ahead of 2031 when political power will devolve to Delta South.
The battle for the governorship of Delta state after Sheriff Oborevwori’s tenure will be between the Ijaws and Isokos or at best, the Urhobos of Delta South, since the Itsekiris have taken their turn through Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The Ijaws are united while Urhobos are swimming in the oceans of inaction, complacency and incorrigible gullibility. Ese Gam will most likely get a second term as UPU President General. Those who planted him there are very comfortable with his imbecility.
It is when an Ijaw man eventually becomes Governor of Delta State that Urhobo will understand the reality of the saying that ‘’You do not drink pepper soup the way you drink ordinary water’’. Aladja community will shrink further under an Ijaw governor because the pressure from the Ogbe-Ijoh axis will take an alarming and ferocious dimension.
Okuama community, Okwagbe, Ophorigbala, and such other Urhobo communities by the coastal belt will feel the true import of Ijaw brute force when the time comes. I truly fear for 2031.
Oborevwori and Udu
My visit to Udu on Wednesday June 4th coincided with the Supreme Court judgment on the (Igbo family) Aladja versus Isaba land matter. I felt the pains of my Aladja neighbour at the DSC township where I went to spend some time with my Dad because I know the history of the said land.
However, the matter has been settled in favour of the Ijaws because of overconfidence and inaction of Aladja political leaders, whose powers are seemingly limited to the quest for selfish political fortune.
Aside from the issue of Aladja, I observed that yet again, the way and manner the state governors have treated Udu since 1999 have continued under Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori. During his May 29th address to mark his second year in office, the governor disclosed that he has completed 500 roads yet not even one in Udu Local Government Area. The most strategic road in Udu is the Udu Road running from Ovwian, Egini/Ujevwu/Ubogo, Otor-Udu and terminating at ECN junction.
That road has enormous economic and political value. A good job on that road could save lots of man-hours, avoid many cases of accidents, improve the mental sanity of road users and mechanical conditions of vehicles, as well as the general well-being of the people.
Though the governor is already constructing the Opete road, as a credible source told me, I think Udu people do not deserve this degree of deprivation. No governor has won elections in Udu since 1999, but that should not be enough reason to punish the entire Udu people, ‘’sinners and the righteous’’ together, because Oborevwori lost elections in Udu. It is totally unacceptable. Sheriff should change the narrative so the ‘Ukodo’ could go round.
The number of roads constructed in Ughelli North Local Government Area so far is enough to prove that this is not about electoral loss but a clear case of the primitive treatment of the Udu people and the height of vindictive politics by successive governors.
Ughelli-Asaba Road.
After complaining about the treatment meted out on Udu by the governor, I wish to thank His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, for the incredible performance on the Ughelli-Asaba road. Indeed, Oborevwori was underestimated. No one gave it to him. We all thought he would falter and fail like Okowa. The fact that he could complete that stretch of road in just two years is simply unimaginable. Oborevwori has done well, and he deserves all the accolades.
The governor has done well in two years, far better than the 8 years of former Governor Okowa. He is poised to do more, but this should go round the entire state. An enemy today could be a friend tomorrow and people should not necessarily be punished because of their political choices.
Conclusion
Finally, Urhobo should open their eyes to understand the threats to their well-being. In the Warri axis, because of what the Ijaws stand to benefit, they are in support of Urhobo while UPU is snoring their tenure away. A goat must be wary of the sudden friendship of a lion because when the lion is hungry, the friend can become the prey. The Ijaw people are not ordinarily bad people. But their quest for dry land, like the Itsekiris can make them go crazy. Let us plan ahead and identify people whose friendship could prosper Urhoboland. Real politicians are already planning for 2031 because the politics of 2027 have gone far. Urhobo, think!
Annabel Ogheneganre of the Urhobo Voice Newspaper writes from Abuja. (08074542421 SMS Only or Whatsapp messages)
