As the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) election draws near, notable Urhobo voices have continued to weigh in on the choice of candidates, the readiness of the Union, and its broader socio-political direction. One of such voices is that of Urhobo commentator, Zik Gbenre, who gave an unreserved assessment of the state of the Union and what the coming election signifies.
According to Gbenre, he holds no personal issues with candidate Ohwofa, but believes that the performance of the incumbent President-General, Ese Gam, has made any opposition candidate more deserving.
“I never had any personal grouse with Ohwofa. Ese Gam has proven so undeserving that any candidate against him is more deserving. Ese Gam failed woefully as PG of UPU. My position remains that as the only opposition candidate, Ohwofa is more deserving. But that should not make us exaggerate the credentials or patriotism of Ohwofa, Mike Igini and others.”
Gbenre also challenged the narrative that Urhobo people are being oppressed. According to him, such claims are unfounded and reflect a defeatist mindset.
“Who oppresses Urhobo? Nobody but Urhobo. It is self-inflicted oppression. How can a people who are the clear majority in Delta State and have enjoyed political prominence in Bayelsa since 1999 claim to be oppressed?”
He stressed that impunity within the UPU should not be blamed on constitutional gaps, but on deliberate abuse of office.
“Breaching the constitution to gain undue advantage cannot be blamed on the constitution. The UPU constitution does not impose any outrageous cost for the expression of interest form. The decision of Ese Gam’s EXCO to fabricate exorbitant fees to discourage opposition is not a constitutional flaw but pure audacity.”
He added that even the election timeline announced by the current EXCO violates the Union’s constitution.
“This ‘nothing can be done’ attitude should not be blamed on the UPU constitution. Those who knew the breaches but kept silent also failed Urhobo.”
Gbenre further accused the previous political leadership of imposing Ese Gam on the Urhobo people, while criticizing the silence of Urhobo elites during his tenure.
“Did Ese Gam go round Urhobo kingdoms before he was imposed by Okowa? He was imposed because Urhobos oppressed themselves. Urhobos kept quiet while he paraded himself from UPU-UK to UPU-Americas, focused on self-glorification instead of protecting Urhobo interests.”
He concluded that the current UPU leadership has been a disappointment because the people allowed it.
“Ese Gam’s UPU has been a disaster—shameful, because Urhobos allowed him to oppress them.
