The Urhobo Equality Movement, UEM, a socio-ethnic pan-African group, comprising Urhobo sons and daughters in the Niger Delta has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to adhere to the tenets of his Renewed Hope mantra in the appointment of the substantive MD/CEO, Chairman and other executives and members of the South-South Development Commission set to be established, and other key positions in the oil and gas sector.
In an open letter signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Erhirhie Patrick Adogbeji and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Walter Aguonigho, the body also beckoned on Nigerians to exercise patience in the Tinubu administration to bring renewed hope to its citizens.
Full statement below:
AN OPEN LETTER TO H.E PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR
We the Urhobo youths under the aegis of Urhobo Equality Movement, UEM, write to appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his bold strides over the removal of fuel subsidy and the modalities and policies put in place to cushion the hardship that was birthed by the subsidy removal as well as stabilizing our economy.
As a tested and trusted leader with your well earned, eminently deserving antecedents; within the short time of your administration, we know you have been putting great polices and strides in the economy impasse that is resultant from past economic policies of your predecessors.
Any reasonable Nigerian should know that it is too short a time to judge you and for you to make positive head ways to ameliorate their sufferings. Hence the advice of our great Elder and State’s Man, General Yakubu Gowon been yield to; Imploring Nigerians to give you more time as he anticipates light at the end of the tunnel. This we collectively agreed to.
The Urhobo Equality Movement, which is spread across the Niger Delta areas of Nigeria and mainly dominant in Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial Districts respectively of Delta State, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and micro units in Ondo State, took it upon ourselves as a challenge to ensure that we voted and protected our votes for you in Delta Central, of Delta State and beyond.
These reflects in the entire votes the All Progressives Congress got in Delta State during the last presidential elections and the Urhobos were devoted in this regards.
We therefore state unequivocally, that, we are host to numerous oil bearing communities among the six(6) South South States, we have been so lenient and steadfast in the presence of political hiccups and marginalization of all sorts and its ramifications.
Due to our robust and high quantum of our oil and gas reserves, and numerical status during elections, we therefore entreat you, our Pragmatic, Amiable and Reliable President to look into these high level of neglect on a particular tribe, the Urhobo’s who have strived through the thick and thin of time with our great Nation Nigeria in the quest to Eldorado through your “Renewed Hope” agenda.
First and foremost, we implore you to look into the areas of sensitive appointments that are developmental to our society at large.
It is pertinent to note that, the Urhobos were actively involved with their, sleeves roled up during the 2023 elections in Delta State and the votes our president garnered here were mainly architectural work of political actors from Delta Central (Urhobo).
Various oil and gas producing local government and communities domicile under Urhobo land in Delta Central and some part of Delta South.
It will be ideal if the equal and even distribution you made as per the Renewed Hope administration, is extended to the Urhobos.
we the Urhobo Equality Movement believe in our indefatigable, quintessential, noble President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a born critical thinker and his resourceful cabinet and aides to look into this matter and treat it with the importance and urgency it deserved.
It will interest the general public to know that, Urhobo, being the 5th largest spoken language in Nigeria and the largest spoken language in Delta State, have been left on the fence for too long in terms of political appointments.
We hereby crave the indulgence of our sagacious and charismatic President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as we register our appeal, that, an Urhobo Son/daughter should be appointed as the MD/CEO or the Board chairman of the proposed board of South South Development Commission in view and other key appointmeNTS comes with human development and capital infrastructure.
We strongly believe in your Renewed Hope administration, Mr President, and desirously rely on your even distribution of appointments to make our great Nation, Nigeria, greater.
Thanks, as we modestly anticipate your usual and heartening cooperation.
Yours in the quest to make Nigeria greater and better.
Long live the Urhobo Nation!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Signed
Comrade Erhirhie P. Adogbeji
National Coordinator, Urhobo Equality Movement
Comrade Walter Aguonigho
Publicity Secretary.
