URHOBO PROGRESS UNION (UPU) The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has no vote in the PDP primary but as the umbrella body and mouth piece of the Urhobo nation, what UPU says and does matters. As the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria and the largest tribe in Delta state, the Urhobos are the largest voting bloc. It is therefore safe to say that UPU cannot be ignored by any political party in Delta state. The UPU has warned that the Urhobo people who are well known for their bloc vote will vote against PDP should they be denied the party’s gubernatorial ticket. The Urhobo are unmistakably disillusioned with President Goodluck Jonathan for good reasons. In 2011 presidential election, the Urhobos gave Mr. President over 800,000 votes accounting for over 60 percent of the votes the president got in the state. In return, they got nothing in terms of federal appointments until two months ago when Dr. Steve Oru was appointed Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, while Delta North that gave the president less 150,000 votes got over 17 very powerful positions including the Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy and the Central Bank governor. The implication of the UPU position is that should PDP unwisely deny Delta Central its gubernatorial ticket, President Goodluck Jonathan stands to lose the block votes of the Urhobo nation which could amount to over two million votes nationwide. The opposition parties especially the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Labour Party are praying and hoping that PDP gives it’s ticket to the Aniomas in defiance of UPU. Crucially, the UPU supports Obaisi (Barr.) Ovie Omo-Agege. Among the short-listed aspirants recommended by UPU to Mr. President, Omo-Agege is number one on the list as the preferred candidate of the Urhobo Nation. He is experienced in governance having served as Executive Assistant to the Governor, Commissioner for Special Duties, Government House and Secretary to the State Government. Omo-Agege was second in the PDP primaries in 2006. Yet, hinging a candidate’s ascendancy on prebendal and ethnic concession may have its consequences.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 13:48:21 +0000
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