*Urged Sen. Ede Dafinone, to wear the shoes of late Sen. Felix Ibru and late Sen. Adegor Eferakeya for the creation of Urhobo State

By Ogbagah Matthias, Ughelli

The leadership of the largest Ethnic Nationality in Delta State, the ‘Urhobos Nationality,’ has renewed their clarion calls for the creation of an Urhobo State from the present Delta State, saying Urhobo has all it takes to have their state in Nigeria.
The leadership of the Urhobo nation made the call in a statement issued by the Committee for the Creation of Urhobo State, led by prominent Urhobo chiefs, who underscored that the Urhobos remain the single largest ethnic group in Delta State, constituting more than 50% of its population.
The committee noted that Urhobos spread across the three senatorial districts of Delta State, adding that the Urhobos hold dominance in Delta Central and maintain a significant presence in Delta South and Delta North.
“While only the Urhobos occupy the entire Delta Central to themselves, they also share Delta South Senatorial District with other Enthinc tribes.
“The Urhobos remain the Majority in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta South Senatorial District with two Distinct kingdoms of Agbarha Warri and Okere Urhobo. The Urhobos have to themselves in their native homeland of Odorubu and Uduophori Communities in Patani Local Government Area of Delta South Senatorial District. The Urhobos are also in Delta North Senatorial District in their Native home in part of Obiaroko town in Ukwuani Local Government Area.
“Urhobo remains the single Largest Ethnic block with many dialects of language ranging from OWHOWHA made up of the Ogor, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli & Orogun in Ughelli North LGA; OKPE made up of the entire Okpe LGA & Sapele LGA respectively; AGBON made up of Isiokkolo, Kokori, Orhoakpor, Okpara, Ovu, Eku & Igu in Ethiope East LGA; UVWIE made up of the entire Uvwie LGA; UDU/UGHIEVWEN made up of the entire Udu LGA and Part of Ughelli South LGA, EWU AXIS made up of Ewu, Okparabe, and Arhavwarien in Ughelli South LGA, OLOMU AXIS made up of Olomu and Effurun Otor in Ughelli South LGA, ABRAKA made of Oruaivie and Umiawha Clans in Ethiope East LGA; ETHIOPE WEST AXIS made up of Oghara, Idjerhe and Mosogar Clans; EVWRENI made up Okpahwa, Urevwen, Uneni and Unenurhie in Ughelli North LGA made up; UWHERU made up of Erovie, Ehere, Urede, Egbo & Urohoro in Ughelli North LGA and AGBARHO made up Okparebe & Avwredja in Ughelli North LGA. If there is any group of people or Indigenous Ethnic Nationality deserving to have a state created for them in Nigeria in general and Delta State in particular, it should be the Urhobo people, who are the majority in Delta State & the 4th largest Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria with Viable economic, Agricultural and Social sustainabilities”.
According to the committee, the economic viability of the proposed Urhobo State is unquestionable as the Urhobos produce over 50% of the Oil and Gas with numerous Flow Stations in Delta state, which has made Delta state the highest producer of Oil and Gas in Nigeria.
“Urhobo has vast area land for agriculture and development and Forest Reserves including the forest Reserve at Mosogar sharing boundary with Orhionmwon in Edo State, the forest reserve at Abraka sharing boundary with Ikpoba in Edo State, the forest Reserve in Oghara sharing boundy Ugoneki & Ologbo in Edo Edo State, the Jese forest reserve sharing boundary with about 6 communities at Orhionnwon, the Orogun forest reserve sharing boundary with Owhelogbo in Isoko North LGA and Abbi in Ndokwa West LGA, the Agbarha forest reserve sharing boundary with the Isoko communities, the Okpe Forest reserve at Sapele Area sharing boundary with Abigborodo in Warri North LGA, the Uwheru forest Reserve sharing boundary with Patani & Bomadi LGAs etc. Urhobo’s land is capable of meeting up with the production of food for both domestic consumption and export purposes.
“Urhobo already has institutions in Education and in other sectors for a proper takeoff once created. These institutions include, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effuffurun, Delta State University Abraka, Petroleum Training Institute Effurun, Western Delta University, Oghara, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University Agbarha-Otor, Bruce Onobrakpeya Art Gallery Agbarha Otor, Ibru Air strip Agbarha Otor, Federal polytecnic Orogun, Nigeria School of Aviation, Orogun, College of Education Warri, School of Health Technology Ofuoma, Conarina Maritime Academy Oria Abraka, Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Co Ekpan, Nigeria Gas Company Ekpan, Delta Steel Company Ovwian Aladja, SPDC Ogunu Warri, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Edjeba Warri, Selplat Petroleum Development Company Sapele, pan Ocean oil corporation Nigeria Ltd, Oghara, Chevron Nigeria Limited Edjeba Warri, Osubi Airport, Osubi”.
The committee highlighted that the Urhobos have historically been a major force in the defunct Midwest Region and Bendel State and continue to dominate in Delta State, making a strong case for a new state.
According to the group, the Urhobos are not only the largest ethnic group in Delta State but also the fourth-largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria. They argue that the proposed Urhobo State would thrive due to its rich oil and gas reserves, agricultural potential, and existing institutions.
The leaders recalled previous attempts to push for the creation of Urhobo State, noting that calls for its creation predate the establishment of the defunct Bendel State. Past Urhobo representatives, including Senator Felix Ibru and Senator Adegor Eferakeya, also championed the cause at the National Assembly.

“If Delta State deserves only one state for creation, it is therefore deserved by the Urhobo people. The call for the creation of of Urhobo state predates the creation of the defunct Bendel state. This call was repeated at the National Assembly by Senator Felix Ibru, who represented the Urhobo People at the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007 at the Red Chamber. It was also represented at the Red Chamber, the Senate, by Senator Adegor Eferakeya, who represented Urhobos between 2007 and 2011. We are therefore calling on the Urhobo Senator, Senator Ede Dafinone, and Urhobo House of Representative members to, as a matter of necessity, support this move and do the needful at the National Assembly for the creation of a State for the Urhobo People of Delta State”.

While calling on all Urhobo sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora to support the creation of an Urhobo state from the present Delta State, said any Urhobo indigene who is supporting the creation of another State other than the proposed Urhobo state in Delta State is hereby advised to make a U-turn and support the creation of Urhobo state which is the most viable, sustainable and realistic in all ramifications.
“The benefits of having Urhobo State should not elude the majority for the minority. When Delta State was created, the Binis, Ishans, and Afemais thought that Delta State was created for the Urhobos, but the present situation in Delta has a different coloration where the Urhobos, who are the majority, do not seem to enjoy the benefits of a majority.
“This is why we must as a people unite once more to embrace the clarion call to truly have a state of our own as we deserve it. Urhobo state shall make the South-South Geo political Zone have 7 States as it is in the North West Geo-political zone of Nigeria. Urhobo state shall not reduce the population of the South-South Geo-Political Zone. Instead, it shall make it robust.
The statement signed by Chief (Sir) Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, Chairman, Chief Dr. Wilson Omene, Director of Publicity, Chief Engr Anthony Onyokoko, Secretary, Chief Mathias Efe Olowu, Assistant Secretary, Chief Felix Edewor, Director of Mobilization, and Rtn Clement Udi, Director of Organization, further urged current Urhobo leaders, including Senator Ede Dafinone, to revive this effort at the National Assembly.