A University of Lagos don, Prof. Joseph Abugu has stated that selfish leadership is the bane of the Urhobo nation asserting that the Urhobos need politics of integrity and honour.
The Professor of Commercial and Industrial Law stated that corrupt leaders cannot liberate the Urhobo nation.
He made this disclosure at the first inaugural public lecture of the Urhobo Renaissance Movement, URM, with the theme: “A Renaissance in Urhobo Nation and The Quest For Leadership” aimed at unifying Urhobo for growth in present socio-political milieu of Nigeria held on Tuesday at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI Conference Center, Effurun, Delta State.
The erudite scholar who delved into other sensitive and salient issues and challenges in Nigeria such as the unequal access to political power by the minority ethnic groups in the face of the majority Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba ethnic nationalities, lack of fiscal Federalism and devolution of powers to the states or regions as the case may be noted with regret “that the present structure and architecture of Nigeria has given vent to Federal impunity” and called on Urhobo to key into the agitation for the restructuring of the country, saying “we the Urhobo people should therefore support these proposals for the restructure and reforms in the political architecture of Nigeria” by not just aligning with other groups but by “charting a unity platform for the voice of the Urhobo people”.
He noted that the people are in dire need of an emergent leader in the traits of late Chief Mukoro Mowoe imbued with integrity and honesty to selflessly advance the cause of Urhobo land, its sons and daughters adding that “corrupt leaders cannot liberate the land”, even as he admonished that Urhobo youths and followers needs to be educated on the art of followership and must desist from publicly disparaging their leaders.
Prof. Abugu who advocated for the vigorous agitation for a true Delta state further appealed to Urhobo to strive to get to the top political echelon at Abuja and even form a Think Tank to assist Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and those of them at the federal level.
Earlier in his brief remarks, Chairman of the event, Prof. Sam Egite Oyovbaire revealed that Urhobos themselves are their own enemies that led to the Delta State capital being sited at Asaba outside other minor agitation. He charge Urhobo to always seek to be at the power house where decisions are taken, saying that “it is a big asset to the people at any time”.
In his welcome address, the Convener/founder of the URM, Prof. Hope Eghagha also of the University Lagos said the movement is set out to complement the efforts of some other groups within Urhoboland who have intervened in Urhobo affairs since 1970 all in support of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU. He said that “we thrive on ideas that rule the world and not money, not wealth not politics”.
Participants at the well-attended event included cream of professionals, traditional rulers and business moguls, youths and women.
