Urhobo Unity and Constituted Authority

The functions of the EC are spelt out in Article 6.3(d.i-v) and 6.4(a-c). Article 6.3 (d.i-v) reads “In accordance with the provisions of Article 6.4, the Board of Trustees shall conduct the election of the President in the following manner: (d)(i) In an election year, nominations for the position of President shall be submitted in writing and signed by at least five (5) persons from amongst the General Members or Associate Members. At least three (3) of such nominators must be from a Chapter other than the nominee’s. (d)(ii) The Secretary and Financial Secretary shall verify that nominees and nominators are in good standing with the Association pursuant to Article 4.6 of this constitution. (d)(iii) Such nominations shall be forwarded to the Secretary at least ninety (90) days before the Annual Convention where the election will take place. (d)(iv) The Secretary shall circulate the names of such nominees to all Chapters at least sixty (60) days before the convention. (d)(v) The Board of Trustees shall appoint three (3) persons from its members and/or from the entire membership to the Electoral Committee at least sixty (60) days prior to the convention at which the election will take place, provided none of such persons shall be a nominee or nominator. And Article 6.4(a-c) reads “Voting Procedure (a) Only Chapters in good standing can vote on financial matters, and at the election or removal of the President pursuant to the voting formula under Article 6.4(c) of this constitution. (b) To be eligible to vote on financial matters and at the election or removal of the President, Chapters must be physically present through their Board of Trustees member, or in his or her absence, through his or her designee. For a designation to be valid: (b)(i) The designee must be a member from the Chapter of the designating Board of Trustees member. (b)(ii) The designator shall provide to the presiding officer of the meeting a written authorization regarding his or her designee. In the absence of a written authorization, the designator shall confirm by telephone to the presiding officer that his or her designee is authorized to vote on his or her behalf. (b)(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, in regard to financial matters, and at the election or removal of the President, Chapters must vote through their representatives identified under Article 6.4(b), (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above. Chapters shall not be allowed to vote in absentia or by proxy. (c) For the purpose of voting at the election of the President, removal of the President, ALL financial matters (including, but not limited to, dues, levies, assessments, membership registration fees, budget and expenditure approvals), and for the aforementioned purposes only, each vote shall be based on the number of individuals who are members of the Chapters and weighted in multiples of five (5).

4.6 Good Standing
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4.4 and 4.5, a Chapter, General Member or Associate Member shall be in good standing in order to enjoy any and all the rights, benefits and privileges under this constitution. For purposes of this constitution a member’s “good standing” means: (a)(i) A Chapter or Associate Member that is up to date in its/his/her financial and other obligations to the Association. (a)(ii) A General Member shall automatically be in good standing if his or her Chapter is in good standing with the Association.

It is against these provisions of the UNANA Constitution that we examined the documents at our disposal. If the information contained in the BOT chairman’s memo of October 31, 2005, is true, and no one has contradicted it, it was the responsible thing to do when Rev. Ogbemure used the provisions of Article 5.5 (b) to convene the emergency meeting of November 19, 2005, to ensure that the EC performed its function. This was not to be. The transactions of that day have been well reported from both sides. The first function of the EC as per the published meeting agenda was to accredit chapters in accordance with Article 6.4(a). According to all available material, it is evident that Urhobo Association of Chicago and Environs, Urhobo Cultural League of St. Louis, Urhobo Association of Iowa, Urhobo Association of Phoenix, Arizona, Urhobo Association of Dallas-Fort Worth and UPU Ontario Canada did not meet the provisions of Article 4.6 (a). However, each of these chapters claimed making their dues payments to the former Financial Secretary. However, the said payments were never deposited into UNANA’s account. If this is true, these chapters were not eligible to vote, and indeed, Mr. Oghenovo Omene was not eligible to be voted for.

The matter of who is eligible to vote and be voted for has been consumed by the argument over the voters’ list compiled by the EC. As there were no clear guidelines for affirming and enforcing the provisions of Article 6.4 (a), the EC under the leadership of Dr. Emmanuel Ojameruaye developed the protocol to be used for verifying the membership list of all UNANA chapters. All sides agree that the protocol was unanimously accepted. For reasons that are in the public record, Dr. Ojameruaye resigned as Chair of the EC. Dr. Ophori was then elected, as chair, by members of the BOT to join the other two members, Mr. Monday Anigboro and Rev. Ekejija, in finishing the work of the EC. What we do not understand is why would the same verification protocol be acceptable under one leadership and not the other?

In light of the failed Newark meeting on November 19, 2005, the BOT Chair was perfectly within the authority vested on him to call the meeting of January 7, 2006, that was held in Oakland, Ca for the swearing in of the President. And, the EC had the constitutional authority to declare Dr. Austin Atiyota as the President-elect when it did. Any other actions outside of those authorized by the BOT Chair and EC are unconstitutional.

In any case, what is apparent from the massive information at our disposal is the irrefutable fact that the BOT Chair and the EC were the only ones with the constitutional right to carry on the actions that they did. In light of this truth, EmotorUrhobo is of the opinion that the matter of the presidential election was a disguise to cover the actual effort to reclaim what some saw as their empire – TUNA and were willing to do any and everything to achieve that goal. Secondly, EmotorUrhobo has resolved to recognize the leadership of UNANA namely, Rev. Raymond Ogbemure as Chair and Dr. Augustine Atiyota as President. We believe that these two fine gentlemen offer the best opportunity to work for unity, change, and development as well as progress here in North America and at home in Urhoboland.

USFCAP is dedicated to working within existing leadership structures for the progress and development of Urhoboland through research and enlightenment campaigns. We are committed to, among other things, strengthening the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) as a organ of Urhobo unity and leadership as well as other global instruments of national unity and leadership. We are also committed to the integration of all Urhobo as ONE.

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