by 
The Urhobo Progress
Union, UPU, under the leadership of the President-General, Chief (Engr.) Joe
Orode Omene, has postponed the forthcoming 2019, National Executive Council,
NEC, election due for the first week of December 2019, following a pressure and
lingering Court case at the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta state.
In a press statement by the UPU National
Secretary, Martins Ahweyevu Mukoro, Esq., said upon recommendation of the
President-General in consultation with the NEC, the Annual Emergency Urhobo
National Congress in a meeting last Saturday, resolved in line with Article 9
(D) of the UPU Constitution that the election into the National Executive
Council fixed for first week December 2019, be postponed for one year. Mukoro
said this became necessary as the Annual Urhobo National Congress in its
emergency meeting was convinced that the turbulence of lack of unity in the
Urhobo Nation since the last UPU election held in the first week of December
2016, according to the UPU Constitution and the purported election of a
splinter National Executive Council held in January 2017 by a splinter group in
violation of the Constitution.
Speaking further, Mukoro said, “The resultant
litigation commenced at the Federal High Court Warri against the splinter group
still lingers on without any resolution that can bring Urhobo Nation together
under the same canopy. “This is a special reason and or expediency touching or
concerning the overall well-being and survival of the UPU and the Urhobo Nation
for which the President-General in consultation with the National Executive
Council made the recommendation for postponement. “The case at the Federal High
Court has been adjourned to 19th Feb 2020. The resolution of the crisis of
unity of the UPU is crucial to the orderly and legitimate transfer of the
leadership power to a succeeding National Executive Council. “Consequent upon,
the postponement of the election due in the first week of December 2019 for one
year, the National Executive Council of the UPU led by Chief Engr. Joe Orode
Omene remains in office during the period of the postponement.
“The postponement is conditional and will be reviewed on the occurrence of one of two events whichever is earlier. “The conclusion of the suit at the FHC Warri filed by the PG of UPU Chief Engr Joe Omene against a pretender Chief Moses Taiga who purportedly emerged from a strange and unconstitutional election held in January 2017 and organized by Chief V. E. Otomiewo, which case has been adjourned to 19-2-2020. “Successful out of court resolution of the crisis engulfing the UPU by any of the patriotic Urhobo associations which have been working behind the scenes to enthrone peace and Unity in the UPU. “In this regard, we thank the group led by Prof. Onokerhoraye, the Urhobo Renaissance Group led by Prof. Hope Eghagha and another group led by Prof. Temi Akporhonor for the efforts they made to resolve the crisis in the UPU. Thank you all.”
Source: Paul Olayemi (vanguard)
