Union accuses Itebu, Onome of blackmailing Orodje of Okpe

The Okpe Union has accused the former secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State chapter, Chief Isaac Itebu and a member of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, Chief Robert Onome, of blackmailing the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Orhue 1.

 “And for these impostors to cheaply think of blackmailing patriotic Okpe leaders (including His Royal Majesty, the Orodje of Okpe), who insist on the distinct Ethnic Nationality status of the Okpe Nation and language, amounts to a treasonable felony against the Okpe Nation and Kingdom.”

The Union also accused them of scuttling the teaching of the Okpe Language in the primary and junior secondary schools of the two Local Government Council areas of Okpeland.

“It is even reported that their immediate target, going forward, is how to scuttle the teaching of the Okpe Language in the Primary and Junior Secondary Schools of the two Local Government Council areas of Okpeland. The declaration by the sellouts, that Okpe is NOT a language, but a dialect of the Urhobo Language, is a shocking affront on the work done by the Udogun Okpe Education Committee (first headed by Prof. Sam Oyovbaire and later the late Prof. Emurobome Idolor), the Okpe Union and several Okpe organizations and nationals all under the leadership of HRM, Orhue I, for the standardization and development of the Okpe Language orthography which culminated in the recommendation of the Okpe Language for teaching at basic education levels in Okpeland, by the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Education.”

At a press conference in Warri, the union recalled the recommendation and subsequent approval by the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, saying the teaching of the Okpe Language has begun in all the public primary and junior secondary schools of Sapele and Okpe Local Government Areas of Delta State.

The position of the union was read to the press by its General Secretary, Barrister Kingsley Akpederin.

“This Press Conference and Press Statement today the 13th of August, 2025 at the Press Centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Warri, Delta State has been necessitated by the fraudulent Press Conference (and Press Statement) organised on the 30th of July, 2025 at Orerokpe, Delta State, by one Chief Isaac Itebu, the 1st Deputy President General of the Urhobo Progress Union and Secretary of the Delta State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who just decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC) political party; Chief Robert Onome, former President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide) and former Chairman of the People's Democratic Party in Okpe Local Government Area (and who also just decamped to the APC); one Mr. Harrison Ekeleme, Immediate Past President General of Amuokpe District of Okpe Kingdom who was Secretary of the Sapele LGA Chapter of the People's Democratic Party, who also just decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC) political party; and Mr. Moses Odiete, the President of the Okpe Youths Progressive Association (aka Okpe Youths Council). In their Press Conference/Statement, they purported to speak for the Okpe people of Delta State and announced that _"Enough is Enough, Okpe is Urhobo.”

The union called for unity and solidarity amongst the people and leaders of the Okpe Nation.

“The Okpe Union, being the umbrella socio-cultural ethnic organization of the Okpe Nation whose leadership is determined by its members through branch delegates in General Meetings, cannot betray the historical heritage and legacy of distinct nationhood bequeathed to Okpe people of all generations by the founding fathers. The leadership of the union under Prof. Igho Natufe therefore calls on all Okpe Nationals the world over to rally round the Okpe Union at this critical time which has witnessed continuous onslaught on its soul by some politicians who think only of immediate gratification. While we ask those who have some influence on them to prevail on them to apologize to the Okpe Nation for attempting to desecrate the sacrosanct legacy of distinct ethnicity of the Okpe Nation, we point it out to the world that the Okpe Union shall not waiver nor quiver in its determination to correct the errors of the recent past about the distinct ethnic status of the Okpe Kingdom.”

The union reminded Okpe Nationals that of all the documents that the political jobbers presented to deceive the gullible public that the palace of the Okpe Nation has relinquished the position that Okpe is a distinct Ethnic Nationality and Language, none of them has ever been signed by an Orodje of Okpe or the Secretary of the Udogun-Okpe.

“They also have always presented only photocopies or scans of Newspaper publications and not the photocopies or scans of the actual documents said to have been signed by any Okpe leaders. We opt here not to let out some terrible things some persons have done in the name of politics including forgery. To get the position of the Udogun Okpe that Okpe is a distinct Ethnic Nationality under no other, anyone can consult the study sponsored by the Udogun Okpe, entitled “The Okpe People of Delta Central Senatorial District, Delta State Nigeria”, where Urhobo was described as neighbour.

The union noted that were the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to be set up in Bendel State times, the Okpe Nation would have definitely been officially recognized in it, without much ado.

“Its exclusion has deprived Okpe communities of comparative development as well as deprived students (in Higher Institutions) of Okpe origin from the two local Government Councils of the Okpe Nation of a fair and commensurate access to Bursaries and scholarships. The deprivation of an Executive Director in DESOPADEC which all Ethnic Nations recognized by the DESOPADEC Law are entitled to, as well as an exclusive commissioner, has further shortchanged the Okpe Nation. It is the firm belief of the Okpe Union that both the Urhobo Nation and the Okpe Nation have been shortchanged by the fusing of the two which has resulted in the two peoples sharing from the same pot of government empowerments, slots, appointments, and many more areas, whereas smaller nationalities receive about same quantum, as sharing is mostly per group. The recognition of Okpe would therefore be a win-win for both the Urhobo Nation and the Okpe Nation.”

According to the union, to mortgage the future of a people for a miscalculated perceived political narrative is dangerous for the survival of such people.

“We therefore call on all well-meaning Okpe Nationals, including the Governor of our dear Delta State, H.E. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, to move to correct the error of the recent political past in Delta State, of grouping the Okpe Nation as under another Ethnic Nationality. The classification of Delta State as having five major Ethnic Nationalities which all other Ethnic Groups must be conscripted into, since the Chief Felix Ibru Era has been dismantled*_ with the official recognition of the Ika and Ndokwa as distinct Ethnic Nations (for example, under the *DESOPADEC Law), even though the Ibru and Ibori policies grouped them as under ANIOMA, one of the erstwhile five classifications.

The union called on the Press to correct the disinformation and misrepresentations given to the public by the Press Conference/Statement organized by the former President General of the Okpe Union, Chief Robert Onome, the 1st Deputy President General of Urhobo Progress Union, Chief Isaac Itebu and others, on the 30th of July, 2025, as they have no locus standi or qualification, to speak on behalf of the Okpe Nation.’

“As we call on all members of the various branches of the Okpe Union as well as all Okpe nationals the world over to remain united and support the current National Executive Council of the Okpe Union led by Prof. Igho Natufe as President General, we pray God to grant HRM Orhue I, the Orodje of Okpe, continuous wisdom and health of mind and body to continue steering the Okpe Kingdom in the right direction”

Credit: Henry Ovie

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