Okpe Union goes tough on boundary issues in Delta State

• Praises Thomas Ometie Ake, others
• Says indigenous ethnic nationalities, including Okpe, are the core federating units of Nigeria

President General of Okpe Union, Prof Igho Natufe, on Saturday named a seven-man committee to work out the modalities of immortalizing the Founding President of the Okpe Union, Pa Thomas Ometie Ake and his colleagues.

‘’Our being here today is thanks to the vision of Pa Ake and his colleagues who had the foresight in establishing Okpe Union, which today makes Okpe Union the oldest registered ethnic organization in Nigeria. Pa Ake hailed from Mereje Town in present Okpe Local Government Area in Okpe Nation, Delta State. The seed he and his colleagues planted here in Lagos 94 years ago has mushroomed into multiple branches across Nigeria and in the Diaspora. We are here because Pa Ake and his colleagues were there. They deserve to be honoured for their selfless services to Okpe Nation’’.

The committee headed by the Immediate Past President General, Mr Patrick Akpotor , was asked to liaise with the families of Okpe Union Founding Fathers for the erection of their statues in their respective towns.

‘’I have asked Mr. Patrick Akpotor, the Immediate Past President General (IPPG) of the Okpe Union to head a 7-member Commemoration Committee to work out the modalities of immortalizing the Founding Fathers of the Okpe Union. Mr. Akpotor and members of the Commemoration Committee shall liaise with the families of our Founding Fathers for the erection of their statues in their respective towns, which shall be unveiled during the 95th Anniversary Celebrations in May 2025’’.

Her Royal Majesty, Olori Kudirat Abosede Shotobi, The Treasure of Ikorodu Kingdom, is a granddaughter of the Founding President of the Okpe Union, Pa Thomas Ometie Ake .

Natufe gave the directive on Saturday at the 94th anniversary of the Okpe Union

He observed that two Okpe villages, Ohore 1 and Ohore 2 were incorrectly grouped in Uvwie Local Government Area.

To check that abnormality, Natufe suggested that a boundary adjustment be undertaken so as to return these villages to the Okpe Nation.

‘’Okpe is the most populous monolithic ethnic nationality in Delta State. There are two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Okpe Nation, namely: Okpe LGA and Sapele LGA. It is estimated that Okpe nationals residing in the neighbouring Uvwie LGA exceed the Okpe population in Sapele LGA. As stated by HRM Orhue l, Orodje of Okpe, two Okpe villages, Ohore 1 and Ohore 2 are incorrectly grouped in Uvwie LGA. It is imperative that a boundary adjustment be undertaken so as to return these villages to the Okpe Nation’’.

The political science professor and writer stated that the Okpe Union is more concerned with the unity and development of Delta State.

‘’Our immediate neighbours are the Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities, with whom we have inter-reacted over the past centuries. We have maintained good neighbourly relations with both of them. The boundary between Okpe and Itsekiri is the Benin River towards the Ethiope River down to the Benin Creek (known as the Hole in the Wall Creek). This Hole in the Wall Creek runs through Ugbukurusu, Elume up to Ughoton/Ugbokodo boundary with Omadino in Warri South, LGA. On the east, the boundary between Okpe and Urhobo is the Ethiope River with Mosogar and Jesse on the East-Southern flank and Oghara on the East-Northern flank. The land boundary between Okpe and Urhobo on the East is between Aghalokpe and Okpara of Ethiope East LGA. On the Southern flank the boundary is at Erere Creek near Effurun Roundabout in Uvwie LGA. Lastly on the South-Eastern flank, the boundary between Okpe and Urhobo is the Okuokoko-Agbarho Bridge on the East-West Road (Effurun Ughelli Express Road). Its central location makes us to refer to the Okpe Nation as the Bridge of Delta State’’.

He underscored the excellent relationships with all ethnic nationalities in Delta State.

‘’The Okpe have excellent relationships with all ethnic nationalities in Delta State as we are recognized as a peaceful, friendly, and an accommodating Nation. We are neither loud nor overbearing to other ethnic nationalities in Delta State’’

But the renowned Nigerian scholar has a proper understanding of federating units in Nigeria.

‘’Okpe is one of the more than 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These indigenous ethnic nationalities, including Okpe, are the core federating units of Nigeria. Thus, like other indigenous ethnic nationalities, Okpe has a voice in determining the future of Nigeria. As the umbrella socio-economic and non-partisan organization of the Okpe Nation, Okpe Union is in close collaboration with other indigenous ethnic nationalities and national organizations, including the Movement for the Reformation of Nigeria (MNR) and the TheRebirthGroup in crafting a new path for the restoration of federalism and good governance in Nigeria’’.

He lashed out at some influential people who constituted themselves into cogs in the wheel of progress in the country.

‘’This new path is predicated on the retrieval of our independence that was illegally extinguished by the British Colonial government and subsequent post-colonial Nigerian governments.  This retrieval process involves a battle of ideas within each indigenous ethnic nationality and their respective external allies. Thus, the battle for the unity of a nationality has to contend with its opposite members, who postulate contrary views to the retrieval agenda. This unity and struggle of opposites is a dialectical law of social development’’.

Real progress lies in true federalism, good governance, says Prof Igho Natufe

• Urges Tinubu, Akpabio, others to save democracy

Restoration of true federalism and good governance are critical if Nigeria is to make reasonable progress in the comity of nations, Prof Igho Natufe, renowned political scientist and President General of Okpe Union has said.

‘’Basically, to restructure a political system is to reform its components and redefine the relationships governing the powers and responsibilities of all levels of government. Especially in a supposedly federal system like Nigeria, such a restructuring is expected to recognize the exclusive jurisdictions of the federating units in critical sectors of industry and the economy as evidenced in the 1963 Constitution. The resistance to this has been very loud, as the opposition perceives restructuring as a code name for the dissolution of Nigeria. In fact, those arguing for 54 or more states in Nigeria and opposed to restructuring are primarily concerned about forfeiting their fiscal benefits of the current distorted federal system that allows them to collect monthly stipends from Abuja’’.

He was speaking at the 94th anniversary of Okpe Union in Lagos.

Natufe spoke at length about the security of Nigerians and leadership in the country.

‘’Nigeria is currently facing an existential crisis engineered by the failure of its leaders to successfully grapple with the problems of nation-building in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious polity. Over the past two decades, the federal government has systematically forfeited its responsibility of safeguarding the well-being and security of Nigerians, as Fulani herdsmen, bandits and terrorists have become a parallel government in the country, especially in several communities in the northern states of Nigeria where kidnapping, raping and killing of thousands of persons with some of them be-headed and burnt alive, have become an accepted practice. Several indigenous ethnic nationalities in central Nigeria, especially in Benue and Plateau states, have been forced into internal refugee camps as the invading Fulani herdsmen, bandits and terrorists have seized their farmlands and villages’’

He also spoke about mismanagement, embezzlement of the wealth of the nation and impoverishment of the citizens.

‘’This leadership failure is replicated in all 36 states of the Federation and the 774 local government councils, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The challenges that confront us in Nigeria are located in the gross failure of two mutually reinforcing properties that have conspired to mismanage and embezzle the wealth of the nation, and impoverish the citizens in the process. These are the elected/appointed political leaders and traditional rulers that constitute the ruling politico-military class. The second category consists of a proportion of the citizenry that is vociferous in its defence of corrupt politico-military leaders at all levels of government. The critique of poor leadership by the conscious citizenry is dismissed as “dissident” and “mischievous” by the politico-military class, a stratagem to silence reason and logic in policy formulation and to impose anti-democratic regime in the polity. The ruling governing parties, at local, state, and federal levels, irrespective of their ideological strips, employ scores of senior special advisers whose primary assignment is to literally expel the bearers of objective criticism from the public space, by tagging them as the “enemies” of the state’’

Pondering over the various problems affecting the country, Natufe accused the politico-military class in power since 1966 of jettisoning the federal principles of the 1963 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in favour of a unitary political system.

‘’Prior to independence in 1960, the demand for state creation for Nigeria’s ethnic minority nationalities was meant to restructure the polity by freeing them from the marginalization which they faced in each of the three regions dominated by the tripodal hegemony. This issue was the key theme at a post-Richards national constitutional conference convened in Ibadan in January 1950 under Governor John MacPherson. The politico-military class in power since 1966 has jettisoned the federal principles of the 1963 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in favour of a unitary political system, even though they christened the 1999 constitution a federal republican constitution. Ironically, the United Kingdom, a unitary system possesses more federalism compliant institutions than a supposedly Federal Republic of Nigeria. For example, political parties in the United Kingdom are federalism compliant unlike the military imposed command system that defines the form and content of Nigerian political parties. This military imposed command system has permeated all levels of governance including the state and local governments’’.

On the role of democrats in distorting the country’s federal system, Natufe said elected civilian governments (1979-1983; and since 1999) failed to address the issue in a meaningful way to halt the various centrifugal forces in the country.

‘’While it may be fashionable to condemn the military regimes for restructuring Nigeria via their respective state creation exercises between 1967 and 1996, it is most disturbing that the elected civilian governments (1979-1983; and since 1999) have failed to address the issue in a meaningful way to halt the various centrifugal forces in the country. For example, their refusal to restore the 1963 Republican Constitution and jettison the 1999 Constitution, which is essentially a militarized command-system constitution, can only be construed as a rejection of renewed federalism’’.

He criticized the military for Balkanizing the three major ethnic groups into states.

‘The state creation imposed on the country by various military dictatorships (1967, 1976, 1987, 1991, and 1996) merely balkanized the three major ethnic groups into states. Thus, by military fiat, the Hausa/Fulani have 10 states, the Yoruba have 7, and the Igbo have 5. This military fiat must be discarded.  If we recognize that all indigenous ethnic nationalities are equal federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, then on what basis was these three ethnic groups Balkanized into several states, respectively, and thereby establishing power disequilibrium in the polity? This creates an undue access to power for these ethnic nationalities in terms of multiple federal ministerial and board appointments to each of them, compared to, for instance, 1 federal ministerial appointment for the entire 40 ethnic nationalities in Plateau State or 1 for the entire 10 ethnic nationalities in Delta State.  Is this George Orwell’s Animal Farm hierarchy the basis for Nigeria’s renewed federalism?

As a framework for a restructured federal Nigeria, Natufe insisted on the creation of homogeneous federating states for the 15 most populous ethnic nationalities that have contiguous boundaries, respectively, creation of a maximum of 15 heterogeneous (multi-ethnic) federating states for the other ethnic nationalities and a Charter of Rights and Freedoms protecting minority rights.

‘’If the proposed homogeneous and heterogeneous federating units are rejected in favour of the existing 36 states, then it is recommended that a distinct ethnic nationality occupying a defined contiguous territory, like, in alphabetical order, the Bini, Itsekiri, Nupe, and Okpe, for example, be classified as an autonomous region with due constitutional jurisdictions to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the state over natural resources in its territory; but shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over primary and secondary education, culture, language, and traditional institutions.

Natufe justified the 18-regional structure prescribed in the PRONACO People’s Constitution of August 2006, where the Isoko, Okpe, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities are grouped in one region to be known as either ISOKPU or ISOKPEHOBO Region.

‘’Another proposition which appeals to Okpe is the 18-regional structure prescribed in the PRONACO People’s Constitution of August 2006, where the Isoko, Okpe, and Urhobo ethnic nationalities are grouped in one region to be known as either ISOKPU or ISOKPEHOBO Region. Each of the three (3) ethnic nationalities shall be classified as an autonomous area with due constitutional jurisdictions to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with the state over natural resources in its territory; but shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over primary and secondary education, culture, language, and traditional institutions’’.

He launched a crusade towards changing the revenue allocation formula.

‘’In all of the above proposed frameworks, the revenue allocation formula shall be 50% derivation; 20% Federal Government; and 30% to the Federation Distributable Pool.

Natufe also recommended the Chinese treatment in dealing with convicted corrupt officials in Nigeria as the most effective method of waging the war against corruption.

‘’It must be emphasized that restructuring by itself does not guarantee an end to marginalization in Nigeria. In each local government area and in each state across Nigeria, there are communities marginalized out of the mainstream by leaders and political parties comprised of members of the same ethnic and religious groups, for example, in Delta State and in Okpe Nation. What we have is poor governance across all levels of government, including the traditional system, anchored on massive corruption. Therefore, we recognize that restructuring by itself is never a panacea for good governance, as long as corruption remains the mainstay of Nigerian political culture.

He advised his country men and women to recognize the tenets of federalism as contained in the 1963 Constitution.

‘’If restructuring is to succeed in Nigeria, there must be a universal recognition of the tenets of federalism as contained in the 1963 Constitution. Assuming that we agree on the prerequisites for restructuring, then a key question to be resolved is on the number of states (federating units) in a renewed Nigerian federalism. Given that Nigeria is a collection of indigenous ethnic nationalities, it is the view of the Okpe Union that a restructured Nigerian federalism must reflect this imperative’’

Prof Igho Natufe sad over neglect of Okpe Kingdom, rebukes Delta political leaders

• Tasks Oborevwori, Dafinone, others on development

The people of Okpe Kingdom have been urged to wake up from their apparent slumber to develop Sapele and Okpe Local Government Areas.

The charge was contained in a message delivered at the weekend by the President General of Okpe Union, Prof Igho Natufe.

The specialist in International Relations and Soviet/ Russian Foreign Policy noted with sadness the stunted growth and development in Okpe Kingdom.

‘’While we share the Orodje’s lamentation on the neglect of Sapele and Okpe Nation by “successive governments”, we situate the problem more in the failure of Okpe elected/appointed political and traditional leaders for the stunted growth and development in Okpe Nation’’

These leaders, according to the renowned political scientist, played and continue to play pivotal role in the electoral “victories” of the governing parties: the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level from 1999 – 2015; the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level since 2015; and the PDP at State and Local government levels since 1999, with Okpe indigenes representing Okpe Nation in the Senate and the House of Representatives, at different occasions, and holding key ministerial portfolios in the Delta State Government, for example, Agriculture, Education, Works, and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, etc.

An alumnus of the People’s Friendship University, a former university professor of Political Science (University of Ghana and the University of Benin) and senior advisor to the Government of Canada, Natufe hinted that Okpe political leaders failed to use their `positions in government to impact positively on the growth and development of the Okpe Nation.

‘’Collectively, they failed to use their positions in government to impact positively on the growth and development of the Okpe Nation, as evidenced in the dilapidating state of public education institutions and the roads, and the absence of industries in Okpe Nation, compared to, for instance, the Isoko Nation’’

The author of several of scientific research was unhappy with the achievements of top government functionaries in Delta State.

‘’What was the role of Okpe leaders on the (then) proposed establishment of a university at Degheli? What positive impact have the two local government councils in Okpe Nation (the Okpe LGC and the Sapele LGC) had on the socio-economic development in Okpeland since 1999? How much does the Delta State Government receive quarterly from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)? How much of these are allocated to, for example, the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Works, etc? How much monthly or quarterly is allocated to each local government council in the State from the actual amount received from the FAAC? These Okpe political and traditional leaders play critical role in the “successive governments” that have contributed to the under-development and impoverishment of the Okpe Nation’’

He noted that the task of Okpe Union is heavy, demanding and challenging.

‘’If we are unable to interrogate Okpe political and tradition leaders on their poor stewardship impacting on Okpe Nation, then we lack the moral justification to interrogate non-Okpe political leaders on the stewardship of their respective portfolios impacting on Okpe Nation. A people get the government that they deserve’’

Natufe to Tinubu: It makes no sense to concentrate Nigeria’s import-export business in Lagos seaports

• Says Sapele seaport completely abandoned, Calabar, Koko, Port Harcourt, and Warri seaports left to rot, and severely underutilized

• Describes performance of Okpe politicians as poor

• Tells Oborevwori, Dafinone, other Delta top government officials what to do

President General of Okpe Union, Prof Igho Natufe has expressed concern about the concentration of seaports in Lagos.

‘’From the perspective of the Okpe Nation and the Niger Delta region, the concentration of seaports around Lagos grants overwhelming power to the Yoruba and the entire South West region of Nigeria’’.

Natufe spoke at the 94th anniversary of the Okpe Union in Lagos.

‘’It is baffling that imports from Asian countries are directed to Lagos ports, when Calabar, Port Harcourt, Sapele, and Warri seaports are closer to Asia than Lagos. This phenomenon clearly demonstrates an over balance of power problematic which we need to address in Nigeria, if restructuring is to be taken seriously’’.

He charged President Bola Tinubu to revive Sapele, Calabar, Koko, Port Harcourt, and Warri ports.

‘’Sapele seaport, a natural seaport, which was second to Lagos before the military coup of January 15, 1966, has been completely abandoned, while Calabar, Koko, Port Harcourt, and Warri seaports have been left to rot, and severely underutilized.

He lamented the concentration of seaports in the South-West geo-political zone.

‘’While political leaders of the Yoruba Nation have used their access to power to monopolize the concentration of seaports in their region, it must be stressed that this monopoly has caused a grave disequilibrium in access to power on the distribution of seaports in the Niger Delta region, including the Sapele seaport. It makes no sense to concentrate Nigeria’s import-export business in only the Lagos seaports.

The renowned scholar, activist and author described the performance of Okpe politicians as poor.

‘’It must be acknowledged that, since the establishment of Delta State in 1991, Okpe political leaders have performed very poorly in attracting businesses to Okpe Nation. Their access to power has not led to infrastructural development in Okpe Nation, compared for example, the achievements of Isoko political leaders in Isoko Nation. In fact, the Isoko Nation has debunked the argument that you need a governor of your ethnic nationality to develop your region. The Isoko political and traditional leaders conscientiously utilize their access to power to benefit their constituencies while, sadly, their Okpe counterparts are primarily concerned about their respective pockets’’

He listed the plans of the Okpe Union towards repositioning the Okpe Nation.

‘’Okpe Union shall continue its advocacy of investments in Okpe Nation, including reaching out to the Delta State Government on this important subject. We shall intensify our lobbying of both the Federal and State governments to ensure the revival of Sapele seaport and the attraction of industries to Okpe Nation. We shall utilize the extensive experience of Okpe nationals, especially those in the Diaspora, to identify prospective investors to invest in Okpe Nation, under the framework of a public-private partnership (PPP)’’

To address the worrisome situation in Delta State, Natufe urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to improve the infrastructural deficits in Delta State, especially in Okpe Nation, make the environment attractive to foreign and domestic investors.

‘’An environment where an investor has to provide electricity, water, and good roads is hardly conducive for economic growth and development’’.

He underscored that Okpe Union must continue to instil positive change in Okpe Nation, by liaising with other Okpe organizations on the strategies for development.

The former university don also spoke on banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.

‘’The fragility of the Nigerian state is aggravated by the insecurity in the country. We call on the federal government to take immediate actions to evacuate Fulani herdsmen, bandits and terrorists from the territories of the indigenous ethnic nationalities across Nigeria. While we advocate for the unity of Nigeria, we strongly believe that the unity can only be strengthened if it is anchored on the principles of justice, fairness and equity, serving the interests of the indigenous ethnic nationalities in the country’’.

He mentioned other ways of addressing the country’s challenges.

‘’We are facing an existential crisis in Nigeria. A resolution of this crisis requires inputs from all indigenous ethnic nationalities at a round table conference, if the National Assembly proves incapable of producing a renewed federalism of the 1963 variant. If not properly handled, the current crisis can lead to unwanted confrontations between ethnic nationalities with severe consequences for Nigeria. It is on record that the Hausas have given the Fulanis an ultimatum to vacate their territories’’.

Natufe also expressed the commitment of the Okpe Nation to work with other ethnic nationalities in restructuring the Nigerian edifice to guarantee the safety of all indigenous ethnic nationalities, on the basis of justice, fairness and equity.

‘’We, Okpe, have no secessionist intentions. But, we recognize that the Nigerian edifice is cracked and haemorrhaging. We are committed to working with other ethnic nationalities in restructuring the Nigerian edifice to guarantee the safety of all indigenous ethnic nationalities, on the basis of justice, fairness and equity, where our rights are recognized and protected under a renewed federal constitution. However, if by omission or commission, the Nigerian edifice disintegrates, we pray it is via the velvet model of Czechoslovakia and not via the Yugoslav variant’’.