URHOBO UNIFICATION IN NORTH AMERICA
Address by Dr. Ona Pela, National President, Urhobo Progress Union, North America (UPUNA) at the Urhobo Unity Meeting held at the Hyatt Regency McCormick, 2233 Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, Ill on Saturday May 25, 2003.

Today is an important milestone in the affairs of Urhobo. It offers an opportunity for new beginnings. I come to you with an open mind and a clear conscience about my desire for a united and unified Urhobo in North America – strong, viral and prepared to play a central role in bringing Urhobo to the table in the affairs of State.

As a result, my heart is filled with joy and excitement as I seat with you here today to share our thoughts on the future of Urhobo nationalism in North America and at home. First, join me in given thanks to Almighty God and our ancestors for answering our prayer “that Urhobo find a way to unit and speak with one voice”. It is also essential that we acknowledge and show gratitude to those who have labored hard, as far back as 1992, to initiate Urhobo nationalism in North America. While I will not mention any specific names for fear of failing to name all, it is of utmost importance that their place be truly and accurately reflected as the history of Urhobo in North America is put to paper for posterity. In this regard, I join Dr. Odemerho in saying thank you to the founders of The Urhobo National Association, North America (TUNA) which without a doubt is the forerunner of the national body that will emerge at the end of today’s deliberations. May God reward you abundantly for preparing the stage for what has become the most active and progressive phase of moving Urhobo in North America into the mainstream in the affairs of Urhobo worldwide, especially in the homeland. Not withstanding these good works, it is time that you let go of your grip on the child. Your pcae wil be recorded in history. It is time Urhobo in North America move on. It is time we stop letting personal differences color our commitment to Urhobo national interest. It is time that all Urhobo have a say in deciding the collective WILL and have a say as to “what will be the best course to chart for the development and progress of Urhobo within the Nation-State called Nigeria.

It is this realization and expectation that bring us to Chicago today. This would not have been possible but for the persistent demand, hard work and prayers of most of you seated here today, especially our kinsfolk in the Chicago and Los Angeles area. I say thank you to them as well. Also, Dr. Odemerho and I could not have mustered the courage to pursue unity without the encouragement of Dr. Ajovi Scot-Emuakpor and Chief A. A. Ukoli. On behalf of my colleague and the Urhobo community, I say thank you to them. Finally, Dr. Odemerho deserves all the praise for the history about to be made today. As with all diplomacy, he provided the calm and sustained the commitment to unification rather than reconciliation against all odds.

It is against this backdrop that I present to you, the delegate, proposals from Urhobo Progress Union North America (UPUNA) for UNIFICATION. Be assured that although I am addressing you as the National President of UPUNA, I am just as committed to unity as every other delegate in attendance. I am committed to our leaving this gathering with a plan of action that will result in ONE UNIFIED NATIONAL BODY. The President-General of TUNA, Dr. Francis Odemerho, and I have agreed on most matters on the agenda.

THE PLANNING: The last 3 weeks has been very hectic for Dr. Odemerho and I. Like you we have been filled with anxiety and anticipation about the outcome of this process. Attached is a copy of the documentation resulting in the use of the Hyatt McCormick. Neither Dr. Odemerho nor I secured the authority from our organizations to spend funds for this activity. However, we saw the wisdom in holding the meeting in a hotel setting rather than at someone’s home. As a result, we agreed to pursue the arrangement of meeting at the Hyatt. I assumed the responsibility of finalizing the arrangements including provision of lunch. The result is that we are paying the same if not less than it would have cost if we were to pay for the space alone as was suggested to us by the hosts.

I have made an advance payment of $1000 to the Hyatt for a $30.00 a plate luncheon, excluding service charge, tax and gratuity for 30 people. Thanks to my wife, Mrs. Pela, who has offered undying support to my yawning for Urhobo oneness and development for over 32 years now. It is my hope and wish that we will resolve before lunch how to settle the account estimated to cost $1200.00.

UNITY: There is no question about the desire for unity by all Urhobo at home and in the Diaspora. Many factors that are beyond the scope of discussion at this gathering, certainly this write-up, continue to impede this arrangement. The experience of residing in North America ought to prepare us for the task of building a united Urhobo. If the response to the call for attendance and participation in this meeting is any indication, the task ahead may not be too difficult. However, we will have to work very hard to focus on the concepts of US, WE, OUR and COMMUNITY rather than I, MINE and CLAN. Our previous efforts at unity had focused on individual founders rather than Urhobo national goals. The agreement to meet for unification instead of reconciliation is an effort to achieve genuine unity.
It is in this spirit that we agreed to extend an invitation only to “local umbrella Urhobo organizations”. If true unity is to occur this body most resolve the complication that arises in situations where there are existing associations within a local body that is already a member of either TUNA or UPUNA. A case in point is the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut where Urhobo Club – a founding association of TUNA, is now a member of the local body called Urhobo Congress. I propose that we leave this gathering acknowledging only 1 chapter as the local chapter from these areas that all of us will identify.

In like manner, there is a need to clarify the position of chapters that are participating in this historic event but are not yet affiliated to either body before we leave this meeting. Just as with the case of chapters that may or have been integrated into a larger local chapter, I am proposing that these chapters be admitted into membership of the national body with the proviso that “it pays the registration fee no later than July 30, 2003 failing which it will have to start the process for admission all over again”. As for the chapters, such as Urhobo Association of Washington Metro, Urhobo-Isoko Association of Atlanta, GA, that decided to step aside between 1999 and today, my suggestion is that “they should return into full participation” immediately if they so wish.

This arrangement will ensure that the body that emerges from this gathering will be a true national body to which no single individual or group of individuals can lay exclusive claim thereby hold it to ransom. This body should be poised to pursue Urhobo national interest which effective and sustained community development. To this end, I propose that we resolve to move to the next step in evolving an Urhobo voice that will influence the affairs of State. A resolution for unity will symbolically express this willingness to think community and Urhobo as the ultimate goal. It will lay the foundation for defining and expecting accountability from those who seek to represent Urhobo interest.

CONSTITUTION: On September 04, 1998, the national body adopted a new constitution that embodied all of the amendments to the 1993 constitution. This is the constitution currently operated by UPUNA but for minor changes. It is also my understanding that except for a drastic change in the process of electing the President and Board Chair, TUNA is operating the same constitution.

Therefore, as a result of the origin and close similarities in the existing constitutions, we, Dr. Odemerho and I, have reached agreement that the 1998 constitution become the foundation document on which to build and move forward. UPUNA is willing to accept the idea of setting up a committee to work on suggesting amendments that may enhance the workability of the document. However, any and all suggested amendments should be put through the procedures set forth in the constitution.

2003 CONVENTION: UPUNA has undertaken major steps to bridge the gap between Urhobo in the homeland and in North America. As part of this effort, the leadership of Urhobo from the homeland has participated in the last 2 annual conventions of Urhobo in North America. As a result of the commitment by the President-General of UPU worldwide, not only to attend the 2003 convention, but that he will do every thing in his power to get the Governor to participate, UPUNA has made advanced plans organizing the convention at the Radisson Hotel Westside, Los Angeles. We have paid the deposit for the facility and we have sent invitation letters home. Our Urhobo brothers and sisters in Southern California are ready to move forward with these plans.

Dr. Odemerho and I have agreed in principle to have Southern California host the 2003 Convention.

NAME: It has been difficult to agree on the name to adopt following unification. As National President of UPUNA, I would prefer that the name remain Urhobo Progress Union North America (UPUNA) as UPUNA already has acquired a tax-exempt status. Thus, it is already poised to seek funding from external sources. However, as an Urhobo patriot, the name that we elect to adopt will not matter to any of the UPUNA chapters or me. Therefore, in line with our commitment to the unification effort, I will not speak more on this matter pending the open discussions.

COMMITTEES: The fact that we have agreed to unite does not mean that Urhobo nationalism is starting afresh. This fact is attested to by the fact that each and every Labor Day Weekend gathering, that is, the annual convention, continues to be tagged Annual Urhobo Convention organized by the national body. It has been a true and legitimate evolution. Therefore, decisions arising from here and action steps to follow will be part of a continuing process of growth, evolution and maturity. A successful meeting will legitimize a process of continuity and we can begin to anticipate and expect outcomes that can be evaluated in the not too distant future. As a result, it is essential that structures be put in place to ensure adequate accountability and merger of records as well as establishing appropriate steps in the transfer of funds to the organization that will emerge from this meeting. Toward this end, we propose the setting up of 2 committees: one to handle the pre-1999 TUNA affairs and the second to handle the post-1999 affairs of TUNA and UPUNA.

In addition, we propose that we set up 2 other committees: one to plan and execute the 2003 convention and the other to plan and conduct the 2003 election at the convention.

On behalf of all Urhobo at home and abroad I express sincere gratitude and say a big thank you to all of the delegates here today. On a personal level I say thank you to all of you that I have met in my travels over the last 4 years through out North America as we sought solutions to the problems that confront us. We have done the best we can to contribute our widow’s mite to the growth and development of Urhobo under the limitations created for us. We count on you to advance the process further. Like our ancestors before us, we claim no ownership of what has been achieved. We leave it to posterity to be the judge.

May God bless you all and lead each of us back home safely, Amen.