The President General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Moses Taiga, has reminded politicians of Urhobo extraction that Power belongs to God and no one gets to a position without the knowledge of God.
In a statement titled, “killing is not part of Urhobo politics,” The UPU PG described as ominous and worrisome the killing of some young politicians in Urhobo land in recent times.
“Are these deaths coincidences…or politically motivated? The UPU does not know, but they are worrisome and ominous. Urhobo politics and elections have always been intense, but killing of political opponents is not part of our political life.
“As the we get closer to another round of elections, the UPU calls on all Urhobo politicians to play their politics without killings, violence and bitterness. Do not shed the blood of any Urhobo son or daughter to achieve your political ambition,” Taiga said.
He added that, “People should aspire for public office with the desire to serve. Anybody desiring to serve does not need to eliminate political opponents to get the position. You do not kill because you want to serve. A call to public service is a call to restore and uplift life, not a call to take life. While we await the police to unravel the perpetrators of these killings, the UPU says enough of these killings. The Urhobos are peace loving people. Nobody should turn Urhobo land into a river of blood.”
*KILLING IS NOT PART OF URHOBO POLITICS-UPU TO POLITICIANS*
The apex socio-cultural body of the Urhobos, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide has advised politicians to conduct their politicking without violence. In a press statement, the UPU President General, Olorogun Moses Taiga, the Union lamented the spate of brazen killings in some parts of Urhobo land: “Last year a young politician was killed on his way to Asaba in respect of the local government elections. Also last year, another young politician was killed in Ughelli South. In the last few days, another young politician has been brazenly hacked down in Sapele. There are a few other killings with suspicious political undertones. Investigations have not proven that their deaths were politically motivated and the Urhobo Progress Union is not saying their death is politically motivated. But local government politicking is on and the 2023 elections politicking is already on, though the elections are still two years away.
Taiga therefore urged politicians to eschew killings, violence and bitterness in their quest for service through politics: “The UPU calls on all Urhobo politicians to play their politics without killings, violence and bitterness. Do not shed the blood of any Urhobo son or daughter to achieve your political ambition. Power belongs to God and no one gets to a position without the knowledge of God.”
He adds, “People should aspire for public office with the desire to serve. Anybody desiring to serve does not need to eliminate political opponents to get the position. You do not kill because you want to serve. A call to public service is a call to restore and uplift life, not a call to take life. While we await the police to unravel the perpetrators of these killings, the UPU says enough of these killings. The Urhobos are peace loving people. Nobody should turn Urhobo land into a river of blood.
Recall recently, the UPU called on Urhobos to stand united ahead of the gubernatorial elections for 2023 in Delta state while assuring that it will collaborate with its neighbours ahead of the elections. Taiga had said, “The UPU wants to assure the Urhobo Nation that it will work with all interested groups to ensure that an Urhobo emerges governor in 2023. Meanwhile the UPU urges of politicians of Urhobo extraction to put their houses in order. A house divided against itself cannot stand. I urge all parties to settle their differences. We must put our house in order before others can take us serious.”
Taiga also reiterated the readiness of UPU to seek the support of neighbours in this regard. “We shall reach out to our neighbours in Delta South and Delta North to get their support; they also need to reciprocate our kind gesture in 2007 and 2015. As usual, the UPU remains non-artisan, but we shall watch the political space vigorously, especially the major political parties and the political engineering that will produce the governorship candidates. We shall ensure that the wishes of the majority of our people come to fruition. Our people feel it is time for Delta Central to produce the next governor and the UPU is in support of their genuine wishes and will work towards achieving it,” he affirmed.
