EFFURUN—THE Urhobo Patriotic Alliance, a socio-cultural group in Delta Central has condemned the advertorial released under the name of the Forum of Presidents General of the Urhobo 24 Kingdoms that was published at page17 of the Vanguard of Monday, March 2, 2015.

In a press release made available to newsmen in Effurun yesterday, the group, through its Director of Publicity, Mr. Oruru Ariyor, condemned both Dr. Peter Obakponovwe and Sir. Kenneth Iwhewhe for issuing a statement which according to it is at utter variance with the overwhelming opinion of the Urhobo people they claim to be leading.

He said: “What is happening in Urhobo today is just too shameful to bear. To imagine that men we the youths had always looked up to for leadership can be compromised by Aso Rock through Ogboru, Omene and Omo-Agege is a complete disappointment to us. We are genuine patriotic Urhobos and no matter the billions they keep bringing from Abuja to share, we refuse to compromise the honour of the Urhobo nation and will never sell our birthright for a mess of porridge like Esau who allowed greed and hunger to becloud his sense of judgment.”

The group insisted that Chief Tuesday Onoge is the only authentic leader of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, and that Olorogun Otega Emerhor remains their one and only candidate.

“No matter the monetary inducement from Aso Rock, an Ijaw man, no matter how highly placed will never dictate to the Urhobos who to vote for, who to follow or who to look up to. Even though the Ijaws have always been our brothers and sisters, any Urhobo man who succumbs to monetary inducement for the betrayal of the Uvwiamuge Declaration is a traitor.

”With elders doing the unthinkable while youths are waxing strong for the unity of Urhoboland under the able leadership of Onoge, we enjoin every genuine Urhobo patriot to pray fervently for the future of our noble race, “ he said.