FAR AWAY CRY OF AN URHOBO PATROTIC SON
(IN JAPAN) - JANUARY 2006.
BY HON DON. EFEME MAYAR

In as much as I am using this medium to say a very big congratulation to the President General of the Urhobo Progress Union, Chief Benjamin Okumagba for the National Award of Officer Of The Order Of the Niger (O.O.N), I will not forget to say also that this singular national honor is no doubt a pride for the Urhobo speaking people in general. On behalf of the Urhobo Community in the Diasporas Asia Branch, I wish to express our sincere appreciation and joy for you Mr. President General. We pray God gives you the wisdom and strength to move the union in the rightful direction in line with the inspirations of the founding fathers. We hope to see many more of our Urhobo fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters being honored home and abroad.

Without wasting much time, I need to re-emphasize the importance and need for the current President General of the (U.P.U) to ginger- up the Chief Ighoyota Amori-led Urhobo Political Forum (U.P.F) or The Urhobo Politicians back home, to making them to understand that the Political Machine of the Urhobo is weak. As such, he should expedite moves to put it in place before it is too late. As a leader, he must relentlessly gear-up the necessary machineries for the actualization of the Urhobo Vision. A wise Vision that was created many years ago by our fore-fathers will for sure be a shame to lose his pride and dignity in our time. I wholeheartedly give my candid advice which I am honestly sure will positively contribute in making the union to ascend to achieving his vision. This vision can be actualized by encouraging the involvement of our Urhobo political pedigrees abroad, which are not part of the present political travails. Definitely, they will honestly bring out their vivid and unquestionable support for the betterment of our land. These moves will not only fine- tune this regime, but will simultaneously also make the union leave a good legacy behind for the next generation to emulate.

The President General should use his more influential office to implore the Urhobo Political Forum (U.P.F) or Urhobo politicians to be more concerned about the symbolic dignity, purification and unity of the Union. They should divest themselves from their self-centeredness in their political undertakings and should think of the spirit behind the establishment of this union. This is a union that came into existence in November 3rd 1931 and has Chief Omorohwovo Okoro as president. When the name was changed from the Urhobo Brotherly Society (U.B.S) to the Urhobo Progress Union (U.P.U) in 1936 Chief Mukoro Mowoe was elected the life President General until his death in 1948. The next year Chief T. Adogbeji Salubi became the President General. These past leaders made us to understand that the aim of this union was to maintain good reputation and to aid better positions or place in the public or society. To maintain this dream Chief M. Mowoe showed an example by traveling to Lagos from his base to have talks with the Lagos branch when there was fear of the union losing its dignity. On-the-other-hand, when he saw that the union couldn’t control the pressure facing her alone, Chief A. Salubi during his time as President General admitted without pride. I quote: (let us admit that for the moment our ship has shattered and we have to retrace our steps. we have to begin again). He personally moved to put the machineries in place and brought back unity and understanding among its members.

Chief B. Okumagba should draw programs on how to affectively use our Urhobo potentials in the Diasporas to positively affect our Desire of uplifting the Pride and unity of the Urhobo people. If our fore-fathers had created a chaotic political atmosphere in the past, I am sure that we would have been limited to nothing but an ordinary unpopular political additional force. They must stop this political Power-game of godfatherism and come together as one to think on how to win the most prestigious seat in the state, which is the only medicine that gives us the healing power of a past bitter wound. He should be enlightened to see the importance of building a meaningful bridge capable of giving him and his entourage the ability of reaching and having the full support of some powerful potential abroad. Can’t they see that these powerful Diasporas have the capacity of reaching the presidency of our great country without filling a visitor’s form? Our Governor today when in the Diaspora was having the Powerful Presidency Connection unknown to some home base politicians until someone convinced him to come down to the state to make things happen, today he is a big fish in the political pond well known not only in the Urhobo rivers but also in any- sea and every- ocean.

Mr. President General sir, something has gone wrong but you can fix it right, only if you will be able to give deaf ears to any sycophants with selfish advice. Chief Salubi also warned in his 1963 presidential address when he said: (Do not allow any body’s bread and wine, silver and gold to upset you. Keep your head clear and straight).
You have to think of the unthinkable, reach out for them, they are international expects having international connection’s but remember also, they are your children and the success of an old wise father must be attributed to the contributions of his children biological or otherwise. Put your machinery back in motion; it is weak.

In his address at the fourth (4th) annual conference meetings of the Urhobo Progress Union (U.P.U.) in London –England, in October 2003, his Excellency, the Governor of Delta State Chief James Onanefe Ibori instigated the encouragement of the Diasporas when he said (To secure the future of ourselves and our children, we must restore to law and order. I call on the Urhobo Diasporas to come forward with proposals on how our common heritage can be safeguarded from destructive forces that now threaten the land) he did not just say it, he demonstrated it by visiting them. There is nothing more encouraging than the wisdom of that move by his Excellency. This kind of actions is the only way I honestly believe will put a stop to the Political anxiety facing us now and probably may bring an end to the scarcity of Urhobo heroes that may soon engulf the Urhobo- land if not taken care of now. This side- lining of the Urhobo Diasporas has not only left bitter taste in the mouth of all patriotic Urhobo people but may even still deprive the next generation the ability to grab Political momentums in the near future. From my findings, I have come to understand that the political idiosyncrasies of the home base have obstructed the Urhobo Diasporas from coming home to partake or given ideals, assisting financially and otherwise to making our dream come true. Any patriotic visional seeing the big danger of this neglect must listen to my FAR-AWAY-CRY.

My dear President General, Sir, you are at the apple -gee in the pyramid of leadership of the Urhobo people, hence it is your responsibility to see to it that the Urhobos do not disintegrate and more importantly also, that their pride is not lost under your leadership. Listen to this patriotic cry and yearn to the wisdom in it. This cry will be in history as a cry that was heard before and will be re-echoed if the need comes. Chief T. Adogbeji Salubi in his 1963 Presidential address proclaimed: (Urhobo is great and that greatness must be at all times be jealously guarded). Listen to my cry.

In addition, I remember when the state was created the Urhobos were with the impression that one (1) or two (2) of their soils will play host to the capital city, but the Deltans of the north outsmarted them and Asaba was named the host. Well, from a reliable source I was made to believe that it was because the then head of state’s wife is from the northern part of the state. Fine, then what about now? These same northerners were able to reach some of their powerful tribal men and women in America, Europe and Asia to make sure that the next Governor of the state through zoning connection comes from them. While the Urhobos were busy waiting for the national number two (2)man to give them directions the northerners were busy using their powerful Asia connection to burst in- and- out of Aso Rock convincing the national power house to make an alternative thinking. On the other hand, while the Urhobo politicians were fighting to claim supremacy over each other with different names and styles whereby disintegrating their political mechanism, the northerners are busy submitting to their Asia Powers (who also have successfully convinced the presidency to contract the new international passport to Asian countries) list of our Urhobo men who will be running mates to them in the 2007 Gubernatorial Election for the approval by the national power house.

I wonder why my Patriotic friends Mr. Sylvester Ukusare the current President General of the Urhobo-Uvwie Community in Italy Europe and the soft spoken loyal dedicated, committed Mr. Edward Fieboh the current President of the Urhobo Progressive Union Southern California Branch, America, are still telling me to join them in the crusade for the actualization of an Urhobo Governor when there is already an organized list floating on the presidential sea. Or is it that those involved were not aware that their names have been penciled in this accord?

(1) Chief Ighoyata Amori........... As Running mate to Hon. Cairo Ojougboh
(2) Chief Charles ufuoma Obule....as Running mate to Mr. Isaac Anwuzia
(3) Barrister Fred Majemite...........as Running mate to Chief. Peter Okocha.
(4) Chief Pius A. Eweredo ...........as Running mate to Mr. Godwin Obielum
(5) An Urhobo still making up his mind to be running mate to Chief Godson Echegile (After the untimely death of an Uvwie icon chief Friday Ani)

I whole-heartedly ask the President General of the (U.P.U) to go back to the drawing board and to honestly checkmate his members. They should stop fighting themselves for supremacy and think of the history they will leave behind if they fail. Chief A. Salubi demonstrated the spirit of a good leadership when he boldly declared in his 1963 presidential address (From what I could gather from my interview with you when I visited Lagos, I deduced that unless one of the two parties to the quarrel gives way to the other, the result will be a permanent disunity and by that we may destroy what we have created. I need not state categorically the needs for an effective union in Urhoboland. You all know that. At this crucial moment when Nigerian History is being made we must not allow petty differences to disorganize us so that we may be able to create a new Urhobo in a New Nigeria and when the political History shall be written, when the Economic History shall be written and when the Social and Religious history shall be written, our names, and that of the tribe shall not disappear).

We need understanding and knowledge but above all, we must be united to keep this dream alive. The involvement of our brothers and sisters in the Diasporas world- wide are urgently needed to facilitate the actualization of this goal, know it today that, when a country is at rebellion it has many rulers, but a man with understanding and knowledge maintains the order. (Proverbs 29-14). The man who destroys the garment of wisdom and honour must be ready to wear the mask of shame and disgrace. As a father you are a builder and how the Urhobo political machine stands tomorrow depends on the foundation you lay down today. Mr. President General, reach out for them, it is your duty. The northerners are not more connected then us, but they are only making use of a connection, which we have more, but have only refused to recognize.

Conclusively, Our Urhobo Political Godfathers today will be blamed if the URHOBO lost the governorship seat, because it will be regarded that in the midst of EVERYTHING they still could not do ANYTHING in the right way and at the right time. On the whole, it will mean that instead of protecting the interest of all Urhobo people whom they were representing, they were only using the Urhobo umbrella that covers their head to project their selfish and personal interest. Chief A. Salubi in the (U.P.U) conference of 1963, stated (I prefer not to soil my name, my character and my integrity. I refuse to lead you my dear people to kneel before any one for a mess of pottage.).

Make hay while the sun shines, this is the only right time you can put things right.

Mr. President General Sir, listen to my patriotic cry. Far away cry.

Hon. DON EFEME MAYAR.
E mail: donmayar4life@yahoo.com