ACCOUNT FOR OVER N40 TRILLION LGA ALLOCATIONS OR FACE LEGAL ACTION, SERAP TELLS 36 GOVERNORS, WIKE

 

 

 

 

 

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the 36 state governors in the country and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to “disclose details of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT and the actual disbursement of the allocations to the local governments since the return of democracy in 1999.”

 

 

 

SERAP also urged them “to promptly invite Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments in your state and the FCT since May 1999.”

 

 

 

Former president Muhammadu Buhari had in December 2022 stated that, “If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.’”

 

 

 

In the freedom of information requests dated 27 January 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Nigerians have the right to know the details of actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations in your state and the FCT.”

 

 

 

SERAP said, “States and the FCT should be guided by transparency and accountability principles and proactively publish information pertaining to their actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments.”

 

 

 

According to SERAP, “Opacity in the amounts of federal allocations actually disbursed to local governments in your state has continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public interest.”

 

 

 

The FoI requests, read, in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state and the FCT to comply with our requests in the public interest.”

 

 

 

“Transparency in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local governments is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions, and strengthen the rule of law.”

 

 

 

 

 

“Implicit in the freedom of expression is the public’s right to know what governments are doing on their behalf, without which truth would languish and people’s participation in government would remain fragmented.”

 

 

 

“Transparency would ensure that the allocations are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public trust that the money would be used to benefit Nigerians resident in these local government areas.”

 

 

 

“SERAP is seriously concerned that years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of federal allocations meant for local governments have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services in several states.”

 

 

 

“Ensuring transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations in your state would also improve the enjoyment by Nigerians of their right to natural wealth and resources.”

 

 

 

“You have a legal responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the actual disbursement and spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in your state, and to ensure that the allocations are dully and fully disbursed to the local governments.”

 

 

 

“SERAP is concerned that despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the culture of impunity of perpetrators.”

 

 

 

“Combating the corruption epidemic in the spending of federal allocations meant for local government areas in your state would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods, and enhance the ability of the local governments to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”

 

 

 

“According to our information, the 36 states in Nigeria and the federal capital territory, Abuja, have collected over N40 trillion federal allocations meant for the 774 local governments areas in the country and FCT.”

 

 

 

“The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed to states N225.21 billion federal allocations meant for local governments in November 2023 alone. States also collected N258,810,449,711.47 federal allocations meant for local government areas in December 2023.”

 

 

 

“However, there is opacity in the actual disbursement of federal allocations to the local government areas in your state. States and the FCT have over the years failed and/or refused to disclose the portion of federal allocations that are disbursed by state governors.”

 

 

 

“SERAP notes that former president Muhammadu Buhari recently alleged that state governors routinely pocket or divert federal allocations meant for local governments areas in their states.”

 

 

 

“According to Buhari, ‘If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.’”

 

 

 

“SERAP also urges you to provide details of the transparency and accountability mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that the trillions of naira of federal allocations that have been received by your state and the FCT are not embezzled, misappropriated or diverted into private pockets.”

 

 

 

“Section 162(6) of Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) provides that each state shall maintain a ‘State Joint Local Government Account’ into which all allocations to local government councils from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State shall be paid.”

 

 

 

“Section 162(5) makes it mandatory that amounts standing to the credit of the councils will be allocated to the States for the benefit of their local government councils.” “Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on your state to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

 

 

 

“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”

 

 

 

“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on your state to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.”

 

 

 

“The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information. Nigerians are entitled to the right to receive information without any interference or distortion, and the enjoyment of this right should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure.”

 

 

 

 

 

Kolawole Oluwadare

 

SERAP Deputy Director

 

28/1/2024

 

Lagos, Nigeria

 

Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org

 

Twitter: @SERAPNigeria

 

Website: www.serap-nigeria.org

 

For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202

 

 

 

January 27, 2024

Press Statement

PDP Demands Release of Abducted Lagos Party Chairman, Others

…Tasks Tinubu on Security

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demands for the immediate release of its Lagos State Chapter Chairman, Hon. Philip Olabode Aivoji, who was abducted on his way to Lagos from Ibadan, Oyo State capital after a very important Party assignment.

The PDP is seriously concerned about Hon. Aivoji’s well-being and safety especially considering his age and health status.

Our Party condemns the distressing spate of kidnap for ransom, mindless killings, marauding of communities and other acts of terrorism across the country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s watch and calls for urgent action to ensure the release of all those held in kidnappers’ dens in various parts of the country.

The alarming situation is an agonizing confirmation that the security intelligence, command, operation and coordination structure under President Tinubu has collapsed.

It is lamentable that despite widespread outcry by Nigerians, the Tinubu administration remains insensitive, nonchalant and laidback on security matters.

Despite the killing of over 5000 Nigerians with the maiming and kidnapping of many more since he took office on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu has not taken any concrete Presidential measure to stem the carnage beyond issuing insipid press statements and extemporaneous security orders whenever an attack occurs.

More heartrending is that the Tinubu-led APC administration continues to play to the gallery by mouthing false assurances while many Nigerians are languishing in kidnappers’ dens and families grieving over the daily killing of our citizens by terrorists.

Our Party however appreciates and commends the efforts of our gallant men and women in uniform for their patriotism, courage and determination in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other social vices plaguing our country despite daunting challenges.

The PDP charges the security high command to take urgent steps to secure the release of Hon. Aivoji and all other Nigerians trapped in abductors’ camps in various parts of the country.

Our Party calls on Nigerians to be at alert and continue to support our security agencies in their efforts to safeguard our nation at this very critical time.

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba

National Publicity Secretary

 

UNDERSTANDING THE SCHISM BETWEEN THE ORODJE OF OKPE KINGDOM AND THE OKPE UNION BY PROF. O. IGHO NATUFE, PRESIDENT GENERAL, OKPE UNION WORLD WIDE

January 25, 2024

 

Introduction

On January 10, 2024, the College of Physical Education Mosogar chapter of the National Association of Okpe Students (NAOS) organized an Okpe Cultural Day to promote Okpe Culture and Okpe Identity. They invited the National Leadership of the legitimate Okpe Union as well as the illegal Okpe Union imposed by HRM Orhue l, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom. We gathered that severe pressures were exerted on the organizers of the Okpe Cultural Day event by some Palace Ekakuro, ordering them not to invite the legitimate Okpe Union. Barr. Ehensiri Akpederin, the General Secretary of Okpe Union worldwide was there to represent the legitimate Okpe Union.  So also was Okakuro Joseph Aboze with his colleagues from the illegal group. Okakuro Aboze expressed his disappointment at the presence of Barr. Akpederin, and told the students that he and his group would depart from the venue after his address, explaining that they would not sit at the same venue with, according to him, a group that had taken the Orodje to court and planned to send the Okpe Monarch to prison. In his attempt to establish the supremacy of the Orodje, he declared: “There is no Union in Okpe without Okpe Kingdom”.

Characteristically, Okakuro Aboze focused on the effect and not the cause of the schism between the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and the Okpe Union. He did not brief the Mosogar students and fellow Okpe nationals present at the event, about the series of peace initiatives that were aborted by the Orodje. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to debunk the propaganda of the illegal group led by Okakuro Aboze by providing a step-by-step review of the schism. But before going into the details, let us start with Okakuro Aboze’s falsification of Okpe History when he declared that: “There is no Union in Okpe without Okpe Kingdom”.

 

A kingdom exists because there was a Nation that produced it. Thus, a kingdom cannot be superior to the Nation that birthed it. This is particularly true of the Okpe Kingdom where the Okpe Nation congregates to elect one of its male citizens as the Orodje via a democratic electoral process. The sovereignty of an Orodje does not grant him an absolute or dictatorial power or authority, but is derived from the results of the electoral process on behalf of the Okpe Nation. When the four princely brothers, our ancestors – Orhue, Orhoro, Evbreke, and Esezi – decided to establish the Okpe Kingdom, they did so from the bowel of the Okpe Nation. Unfortunately, the kingdom under the first Orodje collapsed in 1779 leading to an interregnum of 166 years. (See https://okpeunionng.net/orodjes-of-okpe-kingdom/) During this period, there were no Orodjes because there was no kingdom, but Okpe Nation continued to exist and represented by power brokers in several autonomous Okpe communities.

 

 

Thanks to the Okpe Union, the Okpe Kingdom in the modern era was resuscitated in 1945. From its inception in 1930, the Okpe Union launched a campaign for the restoration of the Okpe Kingdom, irrespective of the opposition of several influential Okpe leaders who were apprehensive about the likelihood of our having another dictatorship akin to the rule of HRM Esezi l. It was not until 1943 that Okpe leaders acquiesced to the demands of the Okpe Union for the resuscitation of the Okpe monarchy, after the Sapele land case which got to the West African Court of Appeal (WACA).The invitation by the British colonial government for the revival of the Udogun Okpe in the late 1920s was for the purpose of its indirect rule policy.  It is an incontrovertible fact that the Okpe Union birthed the Okpe Kingdom in the modern era that produced HRM Esezi ll (1945 – 1966); HRM Orhoro l (1972-2004); and HRM Orhue l (2006 – present). This brief narrative succinctly demonstrates that Okpe Union existed in Okpe Nation “without Okpe Kingdom”as the Okpe Nation thrived as several autonomous communities with solidarity “without Okpe Kingdom”. I am sure that Okakuro Aboze is aware of this Historical fact, but elected to falsify it in order to propagate a false thesis to mislead the Okpe Nation. We therefore reiterate that there is a modern Okpe Monarchy because there was an Okpe Union in an Okpe Nation that fought for its restoration in 1945, after almost 200 years of interregnum. The Okpe Monarchy was not restored to enthrone dictatorship and/or an absolute monarchy, as feared by the influential senior Okpe leaders that were opposed to the restoration of the Okpe Kingdom.  In fact, to underline the symbolic role of the Okpe Union in Okpe History, Okakuro Senator David O. Dafinone, the Master of Ceremony at the coronation of HRM Orhue l, on July 26, 2006, asked the Okpe Union three times in Okpe Language:

 

“Okpe Union, are i hweri ta ghene ahẹ Felix Mujakperuo siyẹ aga-ẹ Orodje Okpe?”

The above means in English Language: “Okpe Union do you agree that Felix Mujakperuo be crowned as Orodje of Okpe Kingdom?” Okpe Union responded Yes on each occasion.

 

The Orodje’s Coup d’état

 

The Okakuro Robert Onome-led NEC of the Okpe Union was ridden with internal crisis from the day of its election on November 19, 2016. The Orodje had made a couple of attempts to reconcile the warring parties. At a meeting he had convened at the Palace on Sunday, October 3, 2020, the Orodje announced his dissolution of the NEC and barred its members from contesting for elections for two years and as well announced an Interim Committee. I had spoken with the Orodje on September 24 and September 29 before the purported dissolution of October 3, 2020. I initiated the September 24th call to discuss the NEC crisis, while the September 29th call was initiated by the Orodje primarily to seek my opinion on why the Okpe Union of North America (OUNA) was not a branch of the Okpe Union in Nigeria. He sought for my opinion because he knew I was the Founding President of OUNA before his coronation. We hosted him at OUNA’s 3rd AGM at College Park, MD, USA, on August 31 – September 3, 2007 where he delivered a landmark Keynote Address, emphatically stressing the uniqueness and distinctiveness of Okpe as an ethnic nationality in Delta State. (See https://okpeunionng.net/tradition-and-governance/)

 

Moments after the Orodje dissolved the NEC on October 3, 2020 I ranged him to register my opinion followed by a memo to him on October 5, 2020 in which I offered him a pathway to resolving the deepening crisis occasioned by the October 3 dissolution.

 

Prior to October 3, 2020, I made spirited efforts to mediate the internal crisis in NEC. I held a series of discussions with Okakuro Onome and Barr. Ehensiri Akpederin. They were the President General and General Secretary, respectively at that time. The discussions were progressing well as both parties agreed to participate at the Annual General Assembly (AGA) slated for November 14, 2020, at the Okpe Hall, Sapele. Unfortunately, further discussions were thwarted by the Orodje’s purported dissolution of October 3. However, my memo to the Orodje on October 5, 2020 continued my peace initiatives. For the first time, I am making excerpts from my memo to the Orodje public, because of the series of enquiries I have received from concerned Okpe nationals asking to know the role I had played at securing peace between the Orodje and the Okpe Union, long before I was elected the President General of the Okpe Union. It should be stressed that, immediately after the October 3, 2020 event, two Okpe nationals based in the Diaspora signalled their intentions to contest for the President General position. Their intentions were warmly received in several Okpe platforms.

 

I have provided below long excerpts from my memo of October 5, 2020 to the Orodje seeking for a peaceful resolution of the schism. Referring to the internal NEC crisis in the Okpe Union between 2016 and 2020, I wrote to the Orodje as follows:

“These series of crises completely paralyzed the Okpe Union during the past four years, thus denying  Okpe a voice in the community of ethnic nationalities in both Delta State and in Nigeria. We became irrelevant in Delta State where we are recognized as the most populous mono ethnic nationality”.

“As concerned Okpe nationals most of us were worried at the purposeless leadership of the NEC. When we spoke on September 24, 2020, you informed me that you had instructed your Secretary to invite the leaders of NEC and other Okpe leaders to a meeting at the Palace on October 3, 2020. We talked briefly about the forthcoming Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Union scheduled for November 14, 2020, at Okpe Hall, in Sapele. I recall suggesting that you send a senior Okakuro to observe the proceedings on November 14. The decision of the October 3 meeting at the Palace was a surprise to most Okpe nationals.  I rang and spoke with you moments after the meeting ended. This is the subject of my memo to you. It is not my intention to challenge your decision, but rather to appeal for a reconsideration of certain aspects of the decision. In doing so, I will attempt to speak truth to power while respecting your position as the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom. I will do so as both a cousin and friend”.

I continued:

“The Dissolution Decree, as I have christened the decision of October 3, is akin to a military coup. Without prejudice to the good intentions of the decision, there is a grave concern about the precedent setting inherent in the decision. For example, the barring of members of the dissolved NEC from contesting in a new election raises fundamental issues about their human rights vis-à-vis the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Has a prima facia case been established against these former NEC members? Can this decision be sustained in a Court of Law? While it may be valid under an absolute monarchical system, I suggest that we examine its validity in a non-monarchical system like the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As I alluded to above, the decision establishes precedence for future Orodjes to adjudicate disputes in any Okpe organization. It removes the power and authority of internal conflict resolution from the respective organs of these organizations and drags the Orodje into political interference in the management of these organizations. My fear is, once this becomes an established modus operandi, the Orodje becomes a fair game for politicians and political parties. This will pull us into a system anchored on the divine rights of Kings engaged in a perpetual struggle vis-à-vis the peoples’ voice with severe consequences for democracy building and constitutionality”.

“Okpe Union is a members’ only organization whose members belong to respective branches or regions. It is observed that only three out of nine persons on the Interim Committee are members of the Okpe Union: Professor EmurobomeIdolor, Chief Barr. Bright Igbako and Professor Kenneth Eni. The establishment of the Interim Committee and its composition is regarded in several quarters as an attempt to make the Okpe Union an administrative arm of the Palace. I hope this is incorrect, for it will be injurious to both Okpe Kingdom and the Okpe Union”.

• Resolving the Contradictions

“The Constitution of the Okpe Union provides justification for the scheduled AGA of November 14, 2020 as a viable occasion to resolve the Union’s crisis. We have endured the poor governance and shambles of the dissolved NEC for almost four years. Okpe Union members and stakeholders in Nigeria and the Diaspora succeeded in raising more than 1,000,000 naira (One Million Naira) within 36 hours to host the AGA, surpassing the AGA Planning Committee’s budget of 950,000.00 naira (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). The main agenda item is to elect a caretaker committee that will appoint an electoral committee towards the election of a new NEC proposed for early or mid-March 2021. It is my understanding that 30 out of 32 branches and regions have registered to attend the AGA.  It was clear that the people had spoken and prepared to reorganize and rebuild a viable Okpe Union. My plea, Umogu, is for you to utilize the existing structure of the Union in facilitating the emergence of a new and purposeful Okpe Union. It is instructive that you dissolved the NEC and NOT the Okpe Union”.

• Recommendations

“Since the venue and funds for the AGA have been secured, I recommend the following for your due considerations.

1. That the Interim Committee headed by Prof. Emurobome Idolor assumes the functions of the AGA Planning Committee to preside over the AGA on November 14, 2020 at Okpe Hall, Sapele. For the AGA, the Finance Officer of the AGA Planning Committee be co-opted into the Interim Committee to manage the expenditures for the AGA.
2. That the Interim Committee invites the AGA to elect an electoral committee to receive and screen candidates for elections in early or mid-March 2021.
3. That Prof. Idolor and his colleagues on the Interim Committee to preside over the election of NEC members in early or mid-March 2021.
4. That the tenure of the Interim Committee terminates on the day a new NEC is elected in early or mid-March 2021”.

“Umogu, Umogu, Umogu, it is my sincere plea that you accept the above recommendations. By doing so, your role in saving the Okpe Union from disintegration and/or fragmentation will be inscribed in GOLD for posterity.

May your reign be long, peaceful and prosperous.

God bless you”.

 

Attempts at a Resolution

Before the election of the current NEC on May 15, 2021, which I am privileged to lead, and since then, NEC has engaged in the search for peace on several occasions

1. Hon. Okakuro James Augoye, then the Delta State Commissioner of Works, initiated a reconciliation committee to resolve the crisis. In its submission to the Orodje, his committee recommended the recognition of the democratically elected NEC and the dissolution of the Interim Executive Committee led by Prof. Idolor.
2. The Udogun Okpe Committee headed by Okakuro Barr. Isaacs Itebu replicated the recommendation of the Augoye reconciliation committee. The Udogun Committee however added the recommendation of the payment of fines by the legitimate leadership of the Okpe Union for the way the matter was handled which they felt insulted the stool.
3. The Okpe Peace Reconciliation Committee led by Rev. Dr. Charles Osume also arrived at the same recommendation as the above two committees. Members of the Okpe Peace Reconciliation Committee included the late Prof. Ovaborhene Idamoyibo (Secretary), Okakuro Moses Asini, Mr. Moses Akpobasah, Ms. Dora Omuvwie, Prof. Hope Eghagha, and Mr. Phillip Mebradu.
4. Okakuro Barr. Charles Obule also initiated a peace move in June-July 2022. Okakuro Prof. S. Ejite Oyovbaire and Okakuro Paulinus Akpeki represented the Palace. Other participants were Messrs. Iroro Clark and Igho Akeregha, Dr. Lucky Akpere and Barr.  Ehensiri Akpederin.
5. It is pertinent to note that, immediately after the election of the current NEC on May 15, 2021, we wrote to the Orodje informing him about the successful AGA attended by delegates from all the Branches of the Okpe Union, and the election of the new NEC. In the letter we sought his permission to grant us an audience at his earliest convenience for us to pay him a courtesy visit, introduce the new NEC, and apologize for any infractions we might have caused him. We also expressed our readiness and willingness to pay any possible fines he might levy against us. Our request was rejected.

 

Prior to the intervention of the Rev. Dr. Osume-led Okpe Peace Reconciliation Committee in the search for peace, NEC had gone to court in Sapele praying the Court to restrain members of the Orodje-imposed Interim Executive Committee and its agents from parading themselves as leaders of the Okpe Union. When Rev. Dr. Osume intimated us about his committee’s peace mission, he requested that we withdraw the case from court so as to give peace a chance. We obliged. However, immediately we withdrew the case from court, the Palace wrote to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) requesting them to recognize the Interim Executive Committee. This was a plot to oust the democratically elected NEC from CAC recognition. Thus, it was obvious that the intention of the Orodje-imposed Interim Executive Committee was not to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict but to gain time in its treacherous move to get CAC to recognise them and register their appointed new Board of Trustees and prevent the democratically elected NEC of the Okpe Union from being recognised by the CAC. Faced with this treachery, we elected to file a suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos.  HRM Orhue l, the Prof. Idolor-led Interim Executive Committee and the CAC were served as defendants in the case.

 

To demonstrate the insincerity of the Orodje-imposed committee in respecting the court process, they obtained a court order in Abuja to appoint an illegal Board of Trustees, without disclosing to the Abuja Federal High Court that they were already defendants in a Lagos Federal High Court on the same subject. Furthermore, we already lodged an application at the Lagos Federal High Court with a similar prayer much earlier and known to the CAC, the Orodje and the illegal Interim Executive Committee. They surreptitiously acquired a certificate of incorporation; an issue that is being handled via an appropriate channel. It is worth noting that the judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos has nullified the Board of Trustees appointed by the Illegal Interim Committee and all other actions by it.

 

Exposing the Falsifications

 

Even after the judgment of the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the Okpe Union on January 19, 2023, we still opened a window for an out-of-court settlement, on the proviso that the illegal group respects and complies with the Judgment. Interestingly, Okakuro Aboze did not mention this to the NAOS students in Mosogar on January 10, 2024. For example, he did not inform them that, upon his receipt of the Federal High Court Judgment of January 19, 2023, he and his colleagues informed the Udogun-Okpe of their decision to “step aside” from their illegal status so as to allow the Judgment to reign. But, according to him, Udogun-Okpe rejected their decision to “step aside”. By his own revelation, he and his group decided to continue playing their roles as sycophants because they lacked the courage to speak truth to power. He made this revelation on August 9, 2023 at a peace meeting convened by Okakuro Oghenevworo Jemikalajah and two other Ekakuro. Okakuro Aboze and Mr. Ochuko Abegbe represented the illegal group, while the Okpe Union was represented by Messrs Okpako Ayaruja, Kingsley Ehensiri Akpederin, Esq. and Dr. Lucky Akpere. While he recognized the grounds for the victory of the democratic Okpe Union as legal, he however pleaded that his illegal group be allowed to remain in office for the first four years before they would hand over to the democratically elected NEC of Okpe Union. We rejected his conditions for resolving the conflict as they tantamount to crowing the illegal group with a toga of legitimacy. We insisted on their compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, which declared that the Orodje lacked the power and authority to dissolve the NEC of the Okpe Union and impose an illegitimate leadership on the Okpe Union

It is important to state that, since the October 3, 2020 purported dissolution of the NEC of Okpe Union, the Orodje and his imposed illegal group label us and those who support the truth as “dissidents” and “enemies” of the Okpe Kingdom, simply for disagreeing with the illegal dissolution of the NEC. Some persons in a bid to weaken the support base of the Union have been promising members of Okpe Union and other Okpe citizens that are supporting Okpe Union, that the Orodje would recommend them for employment/appointment in the Delta State Government, if they withdrew their support. We consider this a despicable act as it transforms the Orodje into an employment agent for the Delta State Government. Interestingly, in 1994, Ms. Liz Truss called for the abolishment of the British Monarchy. She was NOT declared an enemy of the United Kingdom and neither was she denied access to gainful employment. On September 6, 2022, she was invited by Queen Elizabeth ll to become the 3rd female Prime Minister of Britain. It is imperative that we as enlightened Okpe nationals guide Okpe traditional institutions along the path of democracy and reject any tendency towards absolute monarchy.

Why did the Orodje shift from his strong position as a promoter of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality that he brilliantly articulated on September 1, 2007 (See  https://okpeunionng.net/tradition-and-governance/) to become an apologist for Urhobo ethnic nationality by permitting his Udogun Okpe–in-Council to propagate a false thesis that “Okpe Kingdom is one of the twenty four (24) Kingdoms of contemporary Federated Urhobo Nationality of Delta Central Senatorial District.” (OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, SEN. DR. ARTHUR IFEANYI OKOWA, GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE. RE: RECOGNITION OF OKPE AS A DISTINCT ETHNIC NATIONALITY, VANGUARD, Lagos, Nigeria, July 13, 2021, p.20.)?  This was not only a blatant distortion of Okpe History but a regrettable public denial of Okpe Identity. History will Judge if this seismic shift was influenced by the Orodje’s personal interest or by Okpe national interest.

 

Commenting on an article entitled “IS OKPE STILL URHOBO?” that was posted on the Okpe People’s Forum (WhatsApp) platform on November 28, 2023, two erudite Okpe sons responded in strong defence of Okpe Identity.  Barr. Ehensiri Akpederin declared:  “When the leadership of a people claim the identity of a neighbouring nation for political correctness, they have wittingly or unwittingly opted to destroy their own identity, language, arts and the self esteem of the people of their nation or ethnicity. May the Okpe Nation be saved from betrayers”. Prof. Kenneth Eni opined in that same platform that: “Well, it’s only a few Okpe people who do not know their roots that will trumpet Okpe as Urhobo. The Urhobo people have not really considered Okpe as Urhobo. This is not coming as a surprise to me. The more Okpe is not included in this type of affair, the better for the identity struggle”.

 

Concluding Remarks

 

The purported dissolution of the democratically elected NEC of the Okpe Union, by the Orodje on October 3, 2020, has introduced a divide in Okpe Nation. Note that the Orodje’s purported dissolution took place 42 days before the scheduled AGA/Meeting of the Okpe Union to elect a new NEC. It was a stratagem to enforce the conversion of Okpe Union as one of the Administrative Units of the palace under the Orodje’s control, a process which he had put in place in an organogram of Okpe Kingdom administration in 2019. This became evident in August 2021 when the head of the interim regime he imposed declined to participate in a mediation process on the ground that he would only participate if instructed by the Orodje. It became obvious that the Orodje’s decision of October 3, 2020 was primarily to obliterate any semblance of checks and balances in the Okpe Kingdom. This he hoped to achieve by paralysing the capability of the Okpe Union via its conversion to an administrative unit of the Palace, a plot which will deny Okpe citizens a voice in Okpe Nation. Since 1945 the Okpe Union has been that force for checks and balances in the system. The Orodje’s policy is to gradually concentrate power under his ambit and steer Okpe Nation into an autocratic/dictatorial polity. The current drift towards dictatorship does not augur well for the peaceful growth and development of the Okpe Nation.  If the influential Okpe elders that opposed the resuscitation of the Okpe Monarchy were alive to witness this current drift, it is only best to imagine what their thoughts would be.

Unfortunately, very unfortunately, the first Orodje of Okpe, Esezi l abandoned the democratic structure and embraced absolute monarchy, an action which led to his demise and ushered in a period of almost 200 years interregnum of the Okpe monarchy. HRM Orhue l’s action of October 3, 2020 is a sad throw-back to the medieval concept of the “divine rights of kings” which challenges the fundamental thrust of democratic practice in Nigeria and in Okpe Nation. It also ridicules the basis of the democratic election process that the Orodje cultivated during his campaign for the Orodjeship in 2004-2006. This prompted a prominent Okpe Scholar/Journalist to lament in January 2022:

“I worry for Africa and Nigerians. More for the Okpe who are still buried in the womb of medieval mentality”. (An Okpe Scholar/Journalist, January 15, 2022.)

While the Orodje’s action is challenged by a group of pro-democracy Okpe nationals, a pro-absolute monarchy group is propagating the deceased medieval concept of the “divine rights of kings.” This division caused by the Orodje’s intrusion into the administration of the Okpe Union has facilitated an inimical atmosphere injurious to peace, law and order in Okpe Nation. Several Okpe belonging to the pro-democracy group are being harassed and intimidated by some members of the pro-absolute monarchy group whose source of authority is left to conjecture. This is reminiscence of events in the (then) Soviet Union when scores of Soviet citizens, at the minutest of criticism framed in Marxist-Leninist prism, were labelled “dissidents and revisionists”, arrested and incarcerated in the infamous gulag system of imprisonment scattered across the Soviet Union. Interestingly, the pro-absolute monarchy group has categorized the Okpe Union members as “mischievous” and “dissidents” for speaking truth to power while some Ekakuro have threatened several members that the Orodje would cause their arrests if they continued supporting the Okpe Union. Since the Mosogar NAOS Okpe Cultural Day event, we have gathered from various sources close to the Orodje, that the Palace is contemplating to either ban NAOS and/or establish a counter Okpe students association to be controlled by the Palace. It is preposterous that the Palace will conceive of banning NAOS that it did not establish or to consider establishing a counter Okpe students association. It is baffling that this is the Palace’s approach to building a strong Okpe Nation. How much has the Palace contributed to NAOS activities in the past 17 years?

A polity that does not accommodate dissenting views forfeits the rights to be referred to as a democracy. It is within this prism that, for example, citizens assess the performance of their political and traditional leaders, including in Okpe Nation. The dividends of democracy that leaders frequently pronounce imply a basket of essentials that includes good governance, demonstrable accountability, and dialogue with constituents, responsible management of public wealth, respect for contending views, etc. When regime regulators and their praise singers stifle open debate on socio-political issues, they render democratic institutions impotent and cause serious injury to peace and development in the polity. Just as we wrestle with political leadership at all tiers of government on this existential challenge, it is imperative that we do the same with our traditional leadership. Failure to do so is hypocritical and mere sycophancy.

Unfortunately, History is replete with occasions where hypocrites and sycophants gain the attention of political and traditional leaderships in prosecuting citizens that dare to speak truth to power. We witness this appalling phenomenon in both democratic and dictatorial polities. The unjustly prosecuted become respected citizens following the expiration of the previous regimes and the hypocrites and sycophants become vicious critics of the expired regimes which they had hitherto praised to high Heavens. Thus, sycophants and hypocrites are always ready to change their tunes when the regimes they mislead cease to exist. Like Nigeria, the failed giant of Africa, we are witnessing the failure of Okpe to exert itself as a giant in Delta State. Are we to achieve this laudable historical mission by hiding under the identity of another ethnic nationality?

Regarding Okpe Nation, when it is articulated that the “words of the Orodje must be obeyed” and opposing views are characterized as “mischievous” and “dissident,” then it is obvious that we are encouraging autocracy and dictatorship to reign.  Democratic tenets are disregarded and mediocrity, in most cases, is enthroned.  Fortunately, the nature of the Okpe Monarchy does not historically reflect absolute monarchy, as in the making of the throne of the Orodje; the four Ruling Houses who take turns to produce the occupant of the throne designed a limited office as against that of the Oba of Benin, for example, which is absolute. While we, members of Okpe Union, revere HRM Orhue l, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, it must be emphasised that this reverence empowers us to also speak truth to him. Our reverence does not mean we should be sycophants and hypocrites.

Finally, it must be noted and for the avoidance of doubt, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, in its judgment delivered on January 19, 2023, on the Okpe Union Autonomy Suit (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/603/2022) filed by the democratically elected National Executive Council, clearly upheld the autonomy of the Okpe Union as its founding fathers had intended it for the ordinary Okpe man to have a voice in the affairs of the Okpe Nation.

 

God bless the Okpe Union.

God bless the Okpe Nation.

God bless the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom.

 

 

Prof. O. Igho Natufe