Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has called on Urhobo of Delta Central Senatorial to exercise patience while the Federal Government finds a lasting solution to the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
He made the plea during a lecture: ‘Challenges and Prospects of Urhobo Progress Union in Contemporary Times’ delivered, on Monday, on the occasion of UPU 90th anniversary lecture at Urhobo Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge-Agbarho, Delta State.
Some farmers, especially women, in some Urhobo communities across Delta Central have, in the last four years or so, lost their lives, been raped, as well as farmlands to suspected Fulani herdsmen with no impressive intervention from security agents.
Pleading with his kinsmen, the Obarisi of Urhoboland, at the well-attended opening ceremony of the 90th UPU anniversary celebration, called for patience and further peaceful coexistence while the FG does the needful.
“Let me make some comments on security issues, especially farmers and herders’ clashes and kidnapping.
“I am particularly disturbed about the activities of herdsmen who are accused of invading farmlands and committing sundry crimes.
“We need to find the best way for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen.
“I plead with our people that the current heated temperature in the Nigerian polity is commonplace in a developing society.
“However, I urge our people to be patient as the government continues to grapple with this problem,” he pleaded.
Senator Omo-Agege has, however, lauded UPU leadership and all Urhobo for insisting on producing the governor of the state come 2023.
“As we move towards another election season in 2023, it is most appropriate to be conscious and strategic.
“In recent months, there has been considerable apprehension over attempts to short-change Delta Central Senatorial District in the rotation of the governorship position in 2023.
“The strong opposition of the UPU to this surreptitious and dangerous move to manipulate the political process in the state against Urhobo political interest is commendable.
“I sincerely applaud Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide, for insisting that it is the turn of Delta Central Senatorial District to produce the next Governor of Delta State.
“I am also pleased that UPU emphasized the need for the Ijaw nation to support the 2023 gubernatorial quest of the Urhobo Nation.
“Also worthy of note is UPU appeal to political parties in the state to sustain the rotational arrangement of the State’s governorship position based on senatorial districts.
“They have spoken the mind of all Urhobos irrespective of political platforms,” he enthused.
President-General of UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga, in his welcome address, called for continuing unity of purpose among Urhobo people, urging the people to “revisit the ideals of ‘higher thoughts, higher aims’ that fired the resolve of the founders of the UPU.”
Dignitaries at the event included House of Representatives member representing Ughelli North/South/Udu Federal Constituency, Rev. Francis Waive, former Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Professor Emeritus GG Darah, Professor in the Department of English and Literary Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, Sunny Awhefeada, royal fathers and Presidents-General of Urhobo clans across the senatorial district.
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