… Did He Tell Odutemu, Arhawanrien About the Choice Of Ughievwen Producing His Successor?
… Who Is the Ughievwen Son In the governorship Race?
These salient questions are begging for an answer!
Ughievwen, been the largest clan, is one of the 24 kingdoms in Urhobo nation of Delta State.
It is made up of 32 villages and towns with its headquarters in Ughievwen (Otu-Jeremi) covering a total land area of 275 square kilometers.
It is bounded on the south by the Forcados River, on the east by Olomu, on the west by Udu and on the north by Agbarho and Ughelli.
The creation of new local government area in 1991, made it possible for Ughievwen to become the headquarters of Ughelli South area consisting of Arhawanrien, Eghwu, Ephronto, Okparabe, Olomu and Ughievwen.
The immediate neighbours of Ughievwen include Udu, Olomu, Eghwu, Agbarho, Ughelli and Uvwie while the distant neighbours are Isoko, Agbon, Okpe, Ibo and Benin
No doubt, a former governor of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, when he visited Ughievwen, did promised that after the turn of Delta North Senatorial District, when the governorship returns to Urhobo, Ughievwen would produce the next governor of the state.
The incumbent governor of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, was equally quoted to have promised Archbishop Cyril Odutemu, Bishop, Ughelli Diocese of the Anglican Communion and Archbishop of Bendel Province and the Spiritual Father of St. Lazarus Church of God, Primate Jonathan Arhawanrien that he would cede power to an Ughievwen son after his tenure.
Okowa, was quoted to have told a former member and governorship aspirant of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and current gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi and Mr. Peter Mrakpor, that they would succeed him.
Twenty-three years, after, an indigene of Owahwa Community, Ughievwen kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Shobor, JP, reminded the Ughievwen people that the time for the promise to materialize has come.
Chief Shobor, spoke on Friday September 23rd 2022, when Olorogun Gbagi, a former minister of State for education, visited the community to present himself to them ahead of the governorship election slated for March 11th 2023.
According to him, ‘When Ibori visited in Ughievwen, he said in 2023, when the governorship has returned back to Urhobo land, it it coming to Ughievwen kingdom.
“As it is today, the only Ughievwen son who has chested out and is gunning for the governorship and is capable, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi.
“Olorogun Gbagi, is our brother, our own and Ughievwen should support him. If Gbagi is the governor and we are going to Asaba, we are going to our own house.
“Gbagi, is going to government house. On the day of the election, thumb print for the horse which is the symbol of SDP.
“Let us work for him, whatever we want in Iwhrekan, his government will do it for us”, he said.
The president General of Iwhrekan Community, Rufus Onokurefe, said the community was impressed with Gbagi, for considering them fit enough for his presence.
He said: “No governor has come to us like this. We have never seen a governor come to us like this. I know that that of PDP, APC will come but it will never be like you.
“For him to sit here and put head together with us, there is nothing greater than this, we have never seen it like this before.
“Iwhrekan, will work for you. The elders and the youths are for you. Iwhrekreka Community, has agreed to work for you as an Ughievwen son”, he declared.
Also speaking, the Youth Leader of Iwhrekan Community, Edeamrigho Paul, vowed that Iwhrekan, would work Gbagi, saying “we are in support of your governorship”.
His words: “Your Excellency, you are the prominent son of Ughievwen kingdom and Urhobo land. The governorship that has come to Urhobo land, it is Ughievwen turn.
“Now that it has come to Ughievwen kingdom, it is Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, that the cap fits. You have done so much for us, we cannot itemize all of them.
“Ughievwen, please, while the entire youths if Iwhrekan thank you for what you have been doing for us, we queue behind. We will follow you to all your campaigns” he noted.
Another respondent, Mallam Goldsmith, who reaffirmed the position of Iwhrekan Community, appealed to the largest private investor not to forget them when he assumes power.
Said he: “We will stand firm with you but don’t abandon us. What you have done for us in Iwhrekan, is enough to stand with you”.
With the above, which could be called “Iwhrekan Declaration”, the only Urhobo man standing with passion to liberate Delta State, with the capacity to emancipate the youths, end insecurity, has the connection to industrialize the state in the 2023, is Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi.
