By Festus Ahon
UGHELLI—THE Urhobo Political Forum (UPF) has called on all Niger Deltans to embrace peace and dialogue as the legitimate and time tested medium to achieve their goals and condemned the military invasion of Gbaramatu kingdom.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued by the group at the end of its consolidation rally held at Eku, Delta last weekend.
According to the communiqué which was signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the UPF, Chief Ighoyota Amori and Olorogun Ebenezer Okorodudu respectively, the group also frowned on “the wanton destruction of innocent lives and properties and called on the Federal Government to halt such military expenditure.
“Urhobo Political Forum unequivocally supports UPU (Urhobo Progress Union) in totality in her bid to organize the Unity Summit and calls on all Urhobo sons and daughters (both at home and in Diaspora), Urhobo Traditional rulers/ Leaders of thought, all and sundry to join hands and support the UPU for the successful hosting of the Unity Summit.
“Urhobo Political Forum calls for and supports agitations for the creation of Urhobo State, and other states from the present Delta as being agitated by other nationalities in the present Delta State.
“Urhobo Political Forum calls for and supports the creation of seven additional states and two Federal Constituencies from the present Delta Central Senatorial District. Urhobo Political Forum condemns in totality all forms of militancy that involves destruction of oil pipelines, killing of service personnel, kidnappings, arson, murder, and intimidation etc as a method of agitation for the development of the Delta region.
“Urhobo Political Forum calls for the immediate implementation of the Niger Delta Technical Committee report. Urhobo Political Forum supports the amnesty initiative of the Federal Government and strongly recommends that the militants lay down their arms and accepts it.”
It concluded that the “Urhobo Political Forum recommends the speedy development of the Niger Delta as the only means of resolving the crisis in the region” and extend her hands of fellowship to other ethnic political pressure groups from the other senatorial districts that share similar ideals and vision with the group.”
The Urhobos are known for their peaceful pursuit in anywhere they do. Its high time they (Urhobos) came together to foster the unity of this group. We are dedicated to making sure the rife between the militants and the FG is completely resolved with a sense of developing the region. Let the FG put in place basic social amenities and empower the youth through job creation and skills acquisition. Niger-delta had been on this struggle for decades and this time i hope the FG would fulfill all their promises. The militants should be granted total amnesty that would stand the taste of time. I want to commend the UPF and UPU for driving the agitation of the Urhobo nation to greater heights. Long live UPF, long live UPU, long live Delta state, long live FRN. Urhobo Waadoo….