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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
In continuation of “the struggle to redeem Uwheru lands” from the hands of suspected Fulani herdsmen and to restore peace to the entire kingdom, national executive committee of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), led by its president general (worldwide), Olorogun Dr. Moses Oghenerume Taiga, on Thursday 5, March, 2020, paid a condolence visit to the people of Uwheru.
Dr. Taiga was accompanied on the visit by the chairman, board of Trustees of the ancient ethnic organisation, General Orho Esio Obada (rtd), and the forum of Urhobo kingdom’s presidents-general.
Welcoming the UPU delegation at the palace of the Odion’Rode, HRM, Agbaovwe Afugbeyah, Oyise 11, the president-general of Uwheru kingdom, Chief Cassidy Akpedafe, commended the UPU team, as the mouth piece of the Urhobo people, for coming to share with them in their moment of grief.
He appealed to the Urhobo foremost organization to always give Uwheru kingdom the needed support to overcome the menace.
Presenting his speech to Uwheru people, the president general of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Dr. Moses Taiga, condoled with the victims of the attacks by the suspected herdsmen and promised the people that the herdsmen must quit Uwheru lands and every Urhobo land they forcefully occupied.
“On behalf of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) and the entire Urhobo nation, I offer my deepest condolences to Uwheru kingdom over the attacks and brutal killing of ten of her gallant sons, fathers and husbands by savage herdsmen on 13th, 14th and 15th of February, 2020.”
The Olomu chief also said, “The UPU also demands that these killer herdsmen immediately leave Uwheru kingdom, and the entire Urhobo land. We also call for a permanent presence of the military in Uwheru to prevent a reoccurrence of this sad situation. The UPU also joins the call on the Delta State government and the Delta state House of Assembly to revisit and enact an anti-grazing law.”
Responding to the UPU president-general’s speech, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, the commissioner for higher education in Delta State said, “On behalf of Uwheru kingdom, I appreciate the UPU delegation for this visit to us. The visit is a healing balm to our worried hearts and to give us hope that you are solidly behind us in this struggle. I want to make it clear here that we are not fighting against the Fulani herdsmen but with principalities and powers. That is those behind these evil monsters of a people. They are those fighting us.
“Let me also say it again that nobody should believe or take it from anybody that Uwheru sold their lands for Fulani herdsmen to graze their cattle and then terrorize our people. The Fulani herdsmen forcefully acquired the lands without any negotiation from anybody. Once again, we are grateful to UPU for taking this battle as Urhobo battle and not just Uwheru battle,” he said.
The UPU delegation also visited Agadama community, the area most hit by the attacks, and other affected communities. The visit included the presentation of various food items such as rice, garri, groundnut oil, tomato and cash gifts to the affected communities and victims of the attacks by Olorogun Dr. Moses Taiga on behalf of the UPU. The items were happily received by the chairman of Agadama community, Comr. Sunday Iniovogoma, on behalf of the affected communities.
Among those in the UPU delegation were Olorogun Dr. Moses Taiga, UPU president-general; Captain Onogharigho, 1st vice president general; Chief Ifie, 2nd vice president general; General Orho Esio Obada rtd, chairman, Board of Trustees; Professor S.W.E. Ibodje, ex-president general of Agbarha kingdom; Professor G. G. Darah, former chief of staff, Government House, Asaba; Professor Sunny Awhefeada, lecturer (Delsu); Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, president-general of Okere-Urhobo kingdom; Chief Igho Odivwri, president-general of Agbarho kingdom; Chief Patrick Edokreh, president-general of Effurun-Otor kingdom; Mr. Bright Adjogbe, president-general of Evwreni kingdom; Mr. Peter Maison, president-general of Unenurhie community and many others.
While those in Uwheru traditional council of chiefs and stakeholders were Chief Cassidy Akpedafe, president-general general of Uwheru kingdom; High Chief Paul Ovieba, the Otota of Uwheru kingdom; Chief Benjamin Ohworeko, secretary, Uwheru traditional council of chiefs; Professor Patrick Muoboghare, commissioner for higher education, Delta State and political leader; Rt. Rev. V.O. Muoghereh, retired bishop of Anglican diocese of Ughelli; Chief Simpson Obruche, Chief Jabin Oyibokure, Rev. Chief Gambriel Egoh, the Odion of Urede community, Chief Andrew Umukoro, the Odion of Egbo community, Chief (Mrs.) Christiana Etagbedavwe, Uwheru women leader and others.
