₦airaland Forum

ladyF:
Really....

Yes.

All the other ethnicities in SS are complaining about how Jonathan used the power of Presidency to favour the Ijaws and Igbos over other minorities - Isoko Itshekiri Toni Urhobo most especially.

He was the president of the Ijaws and Igbos for the Ijaws and Igbos by all of us.

Alhaji Mumakai-Unagha is the National Publicity Secretary of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU). A legal practitioner, in this interview , he narrates how the Urhobo nation was deprived during the Jonathan years and speaks on the crisis in the Urhobo Progress Union.

Excerpts:

What is your assessment of the Jonathan administration and its dealings with the Urhobos and the Niger Delta people?

Generally, the Urhobo nation did not fare well under the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. In all his decisions, policies, actions and inactions, he never looked at the direction of the Urhobo people and of course he was only concerned with his Ijaw nation.
All the juicy positions that were coming to the Niger-Delta were only going to his people. At a point, the entire Niger Delta was being misconstrued as Ijaw. Both the Ijaw National congress and the Ijaw Youth Council were erroneously mistaken as an organisation for the Niger Delta.
Some Ijaw youths were dangerously empowered such that they could over-run other ethnic nationalities.

Those of us who stuck our necks out in the Niger Delta struggle were dismissed with a wave of hand. I recall that an Ijaw leader once told some us that the Ijaw have fought their battle and that we should go ahead with ours.

Presidential election
In the 2011 presidential election, the Urhobo with all the odds went all out to vote for him but he rewarded us with humiliation for which we vowed not to vote for him again.
The condition we found ourselves when our so called brother ruled the country for the past six years was worse as we have nothing to show for it. Our people are better off when Northerners rule the country. This is the bitter truth which I know too well that some jingoists wouldn’t want to hear.

If you asked me, just as you have done, to me the major achievement of our Brother Jonathan’s administration is the peaceful concession of defeat in the presidential election. To that, he is a hero. No new formulated policy, even the existing ones were not implemented. We Niger-Deltans particularly we the Urhobos never regretted his exit, is better for us.

The Urhobo nation has not witnessed this type of marginalization and oppression in Nigeria history. All the federal industries as well as institutions in the area are all broken down without redress. For the avoidance of doubt, Delta Steel Company is dead, Warri Port is moribund, and the rail line to Aladja is equally abandoned. Nothing seems to be working in the area, yet Urhobo land is a major oil and gas producer.

Do you believe Buhari will serve the best interest of Nigerians?

Buhari’s victory is one of the best things to happen in Nigeria. Believe me, it has long been over due, however, this is the appointed time God says it will manifest especially with the combination of Prof. Osinbajo as the Vice President.

Why do Urhobo feel they will be more comfortable working with Buhari?

Yes, you see the relationship between the Urhobo and the North is not just starting today. The Urhobos and the Northerners (Hausa) relationship is dated back to the pre-colonial era when the Northern traders were all over Urhobo land and the Urhobos were also in the north doing petty businesses. At that time, the Urhobo accommodated and sheltered them.

When Midwest region was to be created, the North was more concerned on the need for the state to be created. It was the late Sultan of Sokoto Sir Ahmadu Bello and the then Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa that did everything humanly possible to ensure its creation.

What are your expectations?

First, the President has said it- the unity of the country is not negotiable but fundamental. Secondly, he will address the short falls especially the security challenges as well as the high rate of corruption in the petroleum industry.
 
Petroleum industry
 
He also said social economic development of the nation will also be his outermost priority. Above all, corruption which has retarded this country for so long will be tackled.

Can you comment briefly on the crisis rocking the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union?

Well, there’s no crisis per se. However, what we did was to remove the President General of the union for lack of steadfastness. Yes, we removed him to save the Urhobo nation to avoid being humiliated and disgraced.

As you may be aware, we are men of honour with integrity backed with resolution to sustain the Chief Mukoro Mowoe legacy not because of our stomach infrastructure.
On 28th of march 2014, the Urhobo nation inclusive of traditional leaders, Religious/Opinion leaders, Youth and women groups unanimously agreed that any of the two major political parties that ceded the governorship to the Urhobo nation, that it is only that party the Urhobo will vote for including all its candidates and not a mushroom party.

Barely four months after this declaration, Chief Omene smuggled in Labour Party for which we resisted and the beneficiary was APC. We told him that we could not continue like that and after a due consultation, we resolved to remove him, Even though Olorogun O’tega did not win the governorship election, we made a point.

In the election Urhobo fielded two candidates Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and Chief Great Ogboru don’t you think it was a political mistake?

That is true, and that is why the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) today is fractionised into two main camps of Onoge and Omene. The Onoge camp which I belong believe very strongly in the rule of law and integrity, while the Omene camp is on the contrary.

You see, Chief Ogboru is very stubborn. Perhaps we do not know when he became the senior son of Urhobo such that without Ogboru, Urhobo cannot move forward.
We persuaded him to step down for Emerhor and he said no. He was being deceived that he is popular, today where is the popularity

Source: Today's Punch.

ekenedegreat:
Conquered by countries that came to help you of course, not conquered by you.

Lol.

Who cares about who helped who? You were conquered. Flat and neat. Mechuonu gi.

Are your ways and behaviour that detestable that no one came to your help? If that is true. You need to make a U-turn from your bad and criminal ways, so that others can come to your rescue in the time of trouble.

Anybody that thinks PDP is coming back to Aso Rock any time soon, must definitely be on cheap crack.


Anybody that contests under PDP in 2019 will lose, whether he is Jesus Xt or Muhammed or Shango!!!!

No story.

SonOfEl:
words of. a monumental coward.

The word monumental coming from a defeated, conquered and daft chest beater, greatly diminishes the meaning.

SonOfEl:
keep dreaming.....I only pray buhari achieves his campaign promises....

the whole world knows whether good or bad, our IQ surpasses that of your entire generation. in fact, as we discuss, a lot is going on about Africa's IQ, thanks to the Igbos, if you like die, we are moving up......just Google on Igbo IQ/African IQ, and eat back your words.......mugu

See this mumu using IQ alongside Igbos. The same set of people that were fighting T72 tanks with cassava sticks, the same set of that were expecting the people that are fighting to be feeding them. Jokers.

That actually shows your IQ is below imbecilicity level.

They did not surrender.

They were conquered.

No story.

SonOfEl:
noisemakers...... Buhari I still dey for your campaign promises to shele.....

if buhari smiles, its an achievement, if buhari visits, its an achievement, if buhari self-services, its an achievement.... na wa for this northern slaves o.....e.g superstar1.....

Ijaw wrapper, Nigerian slave, 5th class citizen of the largest Black nation in the world and first class citizen of the Jungle of Biafra, a mirage of a country, how market?

Buhari will continue to spoil the days of saTANoids with his good works. He is everything a president should be and which your loser, the Mandela of Otuoke, will never be.

Sons of Belial, sons of perdition, wailing wailers and saTANOids are one and the same with falsehood.

I voted right by voting for PMB in 2015, unlike in 2011 when I made a mistake and wasted my time on one Drunken Master.

Ibaji warriors vs biafraudsters again.

Na wa o.

justirich:
the most annoying thing is how they carry Jonathan loss for head pass Ijaw people self. They hate Buhari unduly as if Jonathan was from Southeast states. I pity them

To them, they were ruling by proxy.

I do not know why ruling by proxy should be giving them joy, when they can aspire and achieve same on their own.

It shows their mental capacity cannot navigate the tortuous political climate of Nigeria.

Demburrows:
The yoruba stomach infrastructure stooge should pack one side, his rants on any issue is insignificant even in his apc goons.

The guy deserve your commendation for having the foresight that most of you lack.

News from a dubious website is not a news, but a mere beer parlour gist.

I just love this Joe of a guy.

The best Igbo man ever liveth.

Who was the igbotic bifraudster that ordered the massacre of edo people, hausas and the Annags, Efiks and Ibibio?

Who ordered the massacre of Ogoja youths?

The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, on Tuesday advised Igbo politicians to take the path of honour by helping the Peoples Democratic Party to build a formidable opposition rather than defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress because of their business interest.

Igbokwe said by doing this, the world would take them seriously.

The APC chieftain, in an article entitled, ‘Can the Igbo play opposition for the next 10 years’, published on Sahara Reporters, said the Igbo would not die if they are not in the APC or part of the government.

“After all, the Yoruba have been in the opposition for a long time—since the 1960s, and they have not perished. Let the Igbo work with other PDP leaders across Nigeria to start strategising to reposition, rebrand, and rebuild the PDP. This is the way to political rebirth and redemption. If you have bushes to clear, you have to sharpen your cutlass very well,” he said.

Igbokwe noted that it was shameful that many Igbo politicians, who claimed they were right to have voted for former President Goodluck Jonathan at the last poll, were regretting their decision and looking for ways to join the APC.

He said shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari defeated Jonathan on March 28, panic gripped Igbo politicians, businessmen, women and the traders.

He said, “I remember a night in the house of a very successful Igbo trader in Ikoyi shortly after the presidential election, when it became obvious that President Buhari had carried the day. They gathered to contribute money to support the APC. Even those who travelled home for the Easter holiday donated money from the East just to belong. I felt ashamed that my people couldn’t defend their honour and integrity even in the time of trouble.

“After the 2015 election, when the Igbo lost their resources by putting all their eggs in one basket, many Igbo leaders claimed that the Igbo made the right political choices given the circumstances on the ground then. Yes, the Igbo have said they voted right, but in action and in deed, they have been busy looking for ways to sneak into the APC.

“On Saturday, July 25, 2015, a group that worked against the APC in Lagos called Igbo United Political Forum organised a programme to honor Governor Rochas Okorocha. Behind the smokescreen was an attempt to sneak through the back door to the APC, having missed the front door on March 28 and April 11, 2015. The organisers reaped what they sowed, as all the APC leaders they invited stayed away.

“They licked their wounds and went home to cry. Time and space will not permit me to recall various moves our people have made to find their way to the APC. Those who are still very angry about the colossal loss have pitched their tent with the Biafra mantra. When we lose out in national politics as a result of myopic and timid political thinking and calculation, the next move is to resort to ethnic politics. Nobody is deceived.”

Another hallucination over "Jungle of Biafra" thread!!!!!!!

UncleJudax:
Homo-stupidstar1, just who is chest beating?

Park well jare

We all know who has the crown of chest beating

UncleJudax:
Lol. And you call them chest beaters? Just sit dafuq down.

stupidStar!

JudasIscariot

I repeat, try it and you shall see another Rwanda cockroach treatment.

chukwudi44:
I do not think yu know Aba people.Perharps a quick google search would educate you.

@topic

I think the situation should be handled with utmost caution before it spreads all over the eastern region

Where were they when Nigerian was defeating Biafra?

As if they have the liver!!!!!

Try it and see Aba obliterated from the map of the ''jungle of Biafra'' like Sodom and Gomorrah.

kaycid77:
Where did you get the bold.....even at that you can also say
Nigeria is not up to a quarter of Niger also

Kwara State is 37,700 square km

Abia state is 5,420 square km

Enugu State is 12,440 square km

Ebonyi State is 5,530 square km

Anambra State is 4,844 square km

Imo State is 5,430 square km

The Total landmass of states in SE is 33,664 square km. I am sure half of that landmass is gully eroded or red mud.

No wonder, all of you keep trooping out of the jungle of Biafra like ants, searching for greener pastures.

fulanimafia:
Oil was never a preserve of any region in Nigeria, Kudos to Folawiyo and congrats to Lagosians. Aliko Dangote's refinery is coming at a well appointed time as well.

Long live Odua/Arewa!

Thank you for rejoicing with those that are progressing.

Oil exploration will soon start in Lake Chad basin too, by the special grace of God.

At last Lagos is joining Ondo. Which state is next? Definitely Ogun State.

Haters can sand fill their gully eroded land, if they so wish.

Buhari is ''winch'' hunting Jonathan and his cohorts.

The usual stup1d song of saTANoids, sons of perdition and wailing wailers..

millionaireman:
Some of my Yoruba friends do not seem to understand yet that so long as the 19 states and Abuja political structure remains in the north; with only 17 states in the entire south, a true son of Yoruba becoming president of Nigeria is a mirage; at best, when Arewa is tired of ruling, it shall appoint another Obasanjo-like president from Yorubaland.

One says this because each time the southeast asked for political restructuring, some Yoruba were the first to say that there are already too many states, so why bother to create more. Perhaps, they believed that only southeast zone is cheated by the five-states-only structure allowed by northern military dictators in the southeast area. But in truth, the five-states-only structure in the southeast area contributes a lot to deny adequate political representation to the entire south of Nigeria.

Why will the same Arewa leave the Igbos and fly to yorubaland to find someone to support, just like they did to Ekwueme despite how igbos have helped them in the past?

How can SE, that is not up to Kwara or Niger State be divided again?

Who gives a hoot about the ''Jungle of Biafra''?