2011: Nigerian-Americans mobilise support for Jonathan
By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA—BARELY 24 hours after a group in began the mobilisation of Nigerians in Europe to support President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigerians-Americans in Chicago have resolved to support the President,s bid to contest the 2011 elections.
The move is coming ahead of President Jonathan’s scheduled visit to the United States of America (USA) on September 18 or 19, 2010, to attend the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) billed for 20th to 22nd of this Month.
According to ‘The Chicago Inquirer”, a tabloid based in the US, the resolution was adopted at the inauguration of the Urhobo Political Forum,(UPF), an emerging political group of the Urhobos worldwide, in North America where participants strongly expressed their views in favour of President Jonathan.
The UPF Chairman, Worldwide, Chief Ighoyota Amori (JP), said it is in the best interest of the North for President Jonathan to complete the term of late President Umaru YarAdua and execute the programs they formulated together before his sudden death.
Chief Amori listed, among other achievements of the current administration to include the provision of uninterrupted electricity, security and effective implementation of the amnesty granted militants in order to stop them from wrecking havoc on oil facilities.
Others are the conduct of a free and fair election and rule of law which he said would make democracy survive instead of the zoning arrangement which the federal character had already addressed.
He dismissed as outdated, Professor Sam Aluko’s assertion that minority groups are better protected if the North is allowed to produce the next president in line with the arrangement of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), adding that Nigerians at home and abroad are looking at performance and not regional leaders.
The newly-elected President of UPF in North America, Mr Thomas Odikpa, Jr., said President Jonathan performance in office should guaranteed him additional two terms to make him reign as the Nigerian leader for 10 years since he would be starting his own tenure in 2011.
Odikpa, Jr called on Urhobos home and abroad to unite and wake-up from their political slumber, economic degradation” and work to protect the interest of the next generation adding that there could not be economic emancipation without a good political justification to secure what is due to Urhoboland.
The former military governor of Kano and Benue states, Brigadier-General Dominic Oneya, said President Jonathan has the vision and courage to lead Nigeria to the Promised Land instead of engaging in ephemeral issues of zoning which is not in line with the Nigerian constitution.
Odikpa, Jr. based in Orlando, Florida was elected President of the UPF, North America while Patience Okoroh became the Vice President. Two Chicagoland residents, Ovie Okpodu and Alex Oyinbo emerged as assistant secretary and financial secretary respectively.
Okpodu is also the current President of Urhobo Progress Union,(UPN), Chicagoland. Two women, Tessa Lokas and Rosemarie Walsh were elected secretary general and publicity secretary respectively.
Participants at this years event came from Nigeria, Europe and across North America. They were treated to a Mistic Blue boat tour of Chicagoland water ways at Navy Pier. UPF Chairman, Worldwide, Chief Amori JP was so impressed with the Chicago hospitality that he pronounced the event, a huge success and urged participants to allow the Windy City host the next edition.
He called on Urhobo natives across Chicagoland to join forces with the UPF for the good of Urhoboland. Particular attention was paid to Dr. and Mrs. Abel Dafiaghor for their dedication and help to Urhoboland in the provision of medical equipment for the needy in Nigeria.
Among other issues, the oil spills in the Niger Delta region which affect Nigerias oil producing states also re-echoed at the forum.
