Delta monarch calls for creation of Urhobo state

Gov. Uduaghan

Okumagba, who made the call at UPU Hall, Uvwiamuge-Aghabrho, during the 2nd inauguration/swearing-in ceremony of Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group, UMDG, said the Urhobo, being the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, deserved a state of their own.

He said: “I want the creation of a new Delta State to embrace the 24 Urhobo kingdoms and those who care to join us.”
He said that the call for the creation for Urhobo state became imperative because the Urhobo were the fifth largest Ethnic group in Nigeria and had population more than many states could boast of.

He noted that the Urhobo nation played host to Delta State University, Abraka; Western Delta University and the Federal University of Petroleum University in Delta State, stressing they were enough for the Urhobo to have their own state.

Chief Okumagba was quick to state that his people were a microscopic minority in Delta South senatorial district, alleging that the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko had swallowed the Okere-Urhobo of Warri in the political equation.

”The various ethnic groups must learn to live together. If we don’t want to live together, we can part ways and ask for whatever we want for ourselves.
”The Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko have always swallowed us and I cannot go the House of Representatives. Who is more marginalised than the Urhobo of Warri?” he added.
In his address,  Prince Kingsley Oberuruaria, National President, UMDG, said his administration would vigorously pursue the Urhobo cause and preach peace across board to ensure unity in Urhoboland.

He stressed that UMDG would secure the economic and political development of Urhoboland through the engagement of government and relevant agencies operating in the area.