The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) was established to be a unifying body for the Urhobo people, standing as a voice for their collective welfare, culture, and political interests. However, recent developments suggest that this mission has been compromised, as the UPU and its youth wing appear more divided than united, splitting along political lines in ways that betray its founding purpose.
Instead of reinforcing solidarity within the Urhobo nation, the UPU has become entangled in partisan allegiances, leading to unfortunate factionalism. This divisive approach has, at times, veered into what can only be described as a display of misplaced loyalty and folly, especially in situations where the UPU should be advocating for accountability and justice for the Urhobo people.
One incident that highlights the UPU's troubling trajectory was its recent "sympathy visit" to former Delta State Governor Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud involving 1.3 trillion naira of state funds. These funds, if properly utilized, could have substantially boosted DESOPADEC (Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission), positively impacting Delta State’s economic development and the welfare of its oil-producing communities. At a time when many Deltans, including members of the Urhobo nation, were calling for justice and accountability, the UPU chose instead to pay homage to the former governor, appearing to condone actions that harm the very people it was established to protect.
The UPU’s leaders should have, in that moment, echoed the calls of well-meaning Deltans who demand justice. Their sympathy visit sent a troubling message, making the UPU seem out of touch with the concerns of its people and eroding its credibility as a representative body. This show of deference to political figures suspected of wrongdoing is a betrayal of Urhobo values and a shameful deviation from the legacy of leaders like Mukoro Mowoe and J.T. Salubi, who founded the UPU with the mission of unity, justice, and progress.
This current UPU leadership has taken "fine face"—the practice of currying favor from influential figures—too far, turning it into a cause for national embarrassment. Such actions fail to honor the sacrifices made by UPU’s founders, who aimed to protect and uplift the Urhobo people, not to be swayed by political winds. Many Urhobo, understandably, feel disillusioned, as this failure of leadership weakens the UPU's authority, moral standing, and its founding purpose.
In light of this, there is a growing call for the current leadership of the UPU and its youth wing to step aside. Only then can the UPU return to its founding principles, serve the true interests of the Urhobo people, and restore the pride and integrity of the organization. The legacy of Mukoro Mowoe, J.T. Salubi, and other founding figures deserves to be honored, not squandered. This means pursuing unity and advocacy for justice, even in the face of political pressure.
For the UPU to regain its standing, it must demonstrate loyalty to the people above all else, speaking for them and holding leaders accountable, regardless of political affiliation. It must remind itself and the Urhobo people of its role as a guardian of cultural heritage, ethical integrity, and social unity.
The UPU’s true potential lies in returning to its roots, as a body devoted to the common good, unswayed by the allure of political favor or influence. In doing so, it would not only revive its rightful place as the voice of the Urhobo people but also bring honor back to an organization that, at its best, stands for unity, integrity, and accountability in the Urhobo nation.
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