DELTA 2015: THE DILEMMA OF THE UVWIEMUGE DECLARATION ON THE URHOBO NATION.

The Uvwemugie Declaration and the stand of the UPU on the Delta State Governorship Election 2015 has become a curse rather than a blessing to Emerhor and Ogboru, the two main Urhobo sons in the race. It has taken the greatness away from Great Ogboru. Before now (in previous elections), Chief Ogboru has always been seen as a man of the people, the People’s General is what he was fondly called. He was seen as a state leader that is trying to bring change from the establishment and he enjoyed support from almost every part of the state.

But in the 2015 elections, following the firm stand of dominance and oppression by the UPU (Urhobo Progressive Union) over other ethnic zones in the state, and the quest to produce a Governor of Urhobo nation rather than Delta state, has greatly reduced Ogboru to a “tribesman” instead of a “statesman”. He has now been reduced to a leader in Urhobo nation instead of a leader in Delta state. His influence and support base has now been cornered to Delta Central instead of the whole of Delta state. Unfortunately, he still does not hold the four aces in that zone.

The Uvwiemuge Declaration and the stand of the UPU is now becoming a curse rather than a blessing to the Urhobo nation. The UPU strategy and hope was based on GEJ’s re-election. They declared support for GEJ while expecting him to support their avowed plan not to vote for PDP at the state level but unfortunately the President refused to support any plan/strategy that is against his own party. That actually was the first setback for the UPU. And the straw that broke the camel’s back was the honourabe loss of GEJ at the presidential election.

Without GEJ at the presidency what strategy and permutation will UPU now adopt in facing the reality on ground? The UPU is facing a gigantic dilemma, akin to lying between the Devil and the deep blue sea. Political watchers expect UPU to prevail on one of their sons (Otega or Ogboru) to step down but that isn’t an easy pull, not with the faction and division in the Union. The main challenge is, who will drop for who? APC maybe at the presidency but there is no APC in Delta state and Otega does not carry any political weight even in his own LGA. Great Ogboru has said according to sources that he will never step down for a political minor like Otega, that he’d rather do that for Dr. Okowa, the PDP candidate. On the other hand, it is difficult for them to support Ogboru, considering the fact that Labour party is seen as part of PDP, which they have vowed not to support. Moreso, there is no Labour party at the national level.

Analysts say that the better option for UPU and the Urhobo nation is to re-strategize and align with the PDP to vote for Okowa, which from all indication is a much more qualified candidate coupled with the fact that Dr. Okowa already enjoys statewide acceptance and popularity. This is so that the Urhobo nation will not loss out at both ends or make themselves an enemy of the incoming administration of PDP/Okowa in Delta state.

Their Problem