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… As Uwheru Chairman Emerges President
By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
The JB Hotel along Nickton Road Kpansia was filled to rafter as sons and daughters of Urhobo residing in Bayelsa State with their well-wishers gathered to witness the inauguration of an executive council that will pilot the affairs of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Bayelsa State Chapter for the next three years.
This followed a successful and a peaceful end of the two six-year terms of the immediate past executive council led by Deacon Kingsley Eduvie Akpaka.
Those sworn into office include, Olorogun Charles Oruru (Uwheru) as president; Olorogun Gabriel Phrorhire (UDU) – vice president; Patience Olokpa (Okpe) – secretary; Moses Dike (Abraka) – treasurer; Peter Ikoko (Uwheru) – provost; Simeon Ohwarieme (Abraka) – assistant secretary; Evang. Alfred Akpoterevwen (UDU) – Public Relations Officer; Happiness Ogbogbo (Okpe) – welfare officer; Michael Olomoro (Ughievwen) – financial secretary and Blessing Doghor (Ughievwen) – assistant financial secretary.
The electoral committee chairman announced that all the executives were returned unopposed by a unanimous affirmation by the congress.
According to Moses Gelor, in the bid for peace and equity to reign, the zoning agreement was strictly adhered to and all the various clans were asked to submit the names of anybody they found credible and worthy to lead the Urhobo Progress in Bayelsa State. That was why the election was not only free and fair, but was devoid of rancour that used to characterize such elections.
In his valedictory speech, the out-going president, Deacon Kingsley Eduvie Akpaka thanked God Almighty who gave him and other members of the executive the grace to pilot the affairs of the union, adding that the constitution stipulates a three-year term for the executive, at the end of which if the executive were found to have performed they were given another opportunity to continue, which he was given.
He thanked all those who contributed to the success of his administration. He said his tenure had brought recognition and respect to UPU among the comity of ethnic unions, as well as before the Bayelsa State government and political organizations, and urged the incoming leaders not to relent but to continue building bridges of peace and harmony with other ethnic groups and the host state.
In his acceptance speech, Olorogun Charles Oruru, who is also the current chairman of Uwheru Development Union (UDU) Bayelsa State Branch, said he was elated with the overwhelming victory and opportunity given to him to lead the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Bayelsa State chapter for the next three years, and appealed for support and cooperation from the clans and sub-branches of the union in the state.
“I pray to God to give me and other members of the executive grace to work hard and move our great union to the next level of unity and development.”
He reiterated the importance of unity and team work for the progress of the union in Bayelsa State, adding that “It is necessary to remind ourselves that the process of moving UPU forward in the state is everybody’s responsibility, as my doors shall be open for consultations and constructive criticisms.
“I have always regarded myself as the number one servant of the Urhobos living in Bayelsa and want to seize this opportunity to reaffirm my promise to Urhobo people that I will not compromise anything which to my mind is against the collective interest of all sons and daughters of Urhobo in Bayelsa during and after my tenure as the Bayelsa State chapter president of Urhobo Progress Union,” he said.
In their goodwill messages, Emmanuel Etaiga, Moses Gelor and Chief William Orievwen appreciated the out-going executive for their efforts at stabilizing the union and urged the new executive to improve on the legacies and even strive to add more value to the union, adding that the peaceful conduct of the election and transition was an eloquent testimony that UPU in Bayelsa State is peaceful and stable as the zoning arrangement has come to stay and should be treasured and emulated by other ethnic groups and host communities in Bayelsa State.
The zoning arrangements which has been entrenched in the UPU Bayelsa State Chapter’s bye-laws has laid to rest the dominance of a particular clan, and gives opportunity to all the 24 clans to produce the president and also even spread to the members of the executive.
