Ijaw Leadership In Udu Visits Urhobo Leaders In Delta, Preach Peace, Unity

By Ndu Samuel

The Ijaws living in Udu under the leadership of Amb. Dr. Capt. Wilson Arantan Ogidigben-arere, the prime minister of all Ijaws in Udu Kingdom on Wednesday payed a familiarisation visit to the leadership of the President generals of Urhobo nation in Delta State.

The high powered delegation of the Ijaws in Udu was personally led by Amb. Dr. Capt. Wilson Arantan, the Prime minister of the Ijaws in Udu Kingdom, Udu Local government area of Delta State and other leaders in Udu and Warri that accompanied him for the visit.

Dr. Wilson had in his remark at the conference hall of Uvwie Town Hall in PTI Road, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday asserted that the Ijaws and Urhobo are one indivisible family.

The prime minister had particularly lauded the Urhobo nation for being their closest neighbours, stressing that the people of Udu have demonstrated and shown uncommon love to the Ijaws over the years.

On the Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja crisis, Dr. Arantan noted that the Ijaws and Urhobos are not at war but rather it is the Aladja and their Ogbe-Ijoh brothers that are having issues, stressing that his leadership will join other well meaning Ijaws in ensuring that the lingering crisis is brought to an end.

Speaking further, the Prime minister had pledged to work closely with the Urhobo nation president generals whenever the need arises, stressing that peace is priceless.

Nevertheless, Amb. Wilson had called on His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to urgently swing into action by resolving the lingering Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja crisis.

On his part, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide who attended the meeting had maintained that the Ijaws and Urhobos have no issue that will want them into going to war with one another.

He explained that the Federal Government and multinational oil companies that are milking oil from the Niger Delta region without proper development of the region should be the enemy of Niger Deltans.

The Spokesman continued that same issues of deprivation and underdevelopment bedeviling the Ijaw man are same issues bedeviling the Urhobo man and others in the Niger Delta region, “so what are we fighting for ? , Binebai asked.

Princewill asserted that there is hardly any Ijaw man without a trace to Urhobo and same to an Urhobo man without trace to Ijaw, drums of war must be discouraged at all cost, Binebai noted.

On their part, Chief Monday Arawore Umiahwa, President general of Abraka Kingdom who is the Chairman of the forum had greeted the Udu Ijaw delegation for their visit.

Chief Monday had assured the Ijaws of their continued collaboration and support, stressing that the Ijaws and Urhobos are truly one big family, adding that they will continue to rally round critical stakeholders in resolving the lingering crisis between the Ogbe-Ijoh and the Aladja people.

Present at the meeting on the part of the Urhobo nation include:

1.Chief Monday Arawore. Umiahwa Abraka Kingdom chairman.
2. Rev.Canon David Ofofia Okere Urhobo Kingdom vice chairman.
3. Comr Bright Adjogbe Erwreni Kingdom secretary.
4. Chief Abovi H.Erufe Uvwie Kingdom Spokesman.
5. Chief Daniel Ojo Agbarha Otor Kingdom Treasurer.
6. Chief Julius Akpodiefe. Okparabe Kingdom financial secretary.
7. Chief Emmanuel Emenu, Agbarha Warri kingdom.
8. Chief Vincent Atumah, Oghara Kingdom.
9. Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Ewu Kingdom.
10. Chief Benard Ughwumakpo, Oruarivie-Abraka Kingdom.
11. Chief Wilson Umukoro. Arharwaria Kingdom
12. Chief Joseph Aboze, Okpe Kingdom
13. Moses Uparan, Udu Kingdom
14. Chief Lucky Edomidoghan, Idjere Kingdom

On the part of Ijaws are: Amb. Dr. Wilson Arantan Ogidigben-arere, Prime minister of the Ijaws in Udu Kingdom, High Chief Austin Enekorogha (JP), Double Chief George Timiyan, Chief (Hon) Simeon Bebenimibo, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Tare Okain, Comr. John Gbozimor, Prince Karenade Abioka, Iroko Didi and Pst. Christmas James Ikare with the host of others.