•Warns against blind support for political parties, candidates

Okpe Union on Tuesday emphasized that growth and development would continue to elude Okpe Kingdom unless the people stop blind support for political parties and candidates.

“We call on all Okpe nationals to vote for only candidates that subscribe to the 14 points Okpe Nation Agenda. Blind support for political parties and candidates since 1999 has failed Okpe Nation in all indices of growth and development.”

The Union also advised Okpe nationals to register and obtain their permanent voter’s card (PVC).

“It is time to reclaim Okpe Nation for the growth and development of Okpe land.”

In a statement on political participation by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Okpe Union Worldwide, the Union vowed to support only candidates committed to the actualization of the 14 Points Okpe Nation Agenda.

“Okpe Union, like other responsible ethnic organizations, will only endorse candidates for elective offices who subscribe to the 14 Points Okpe Nation Agenda.”

The statement signed by Okpe Union President General, Prof Igho Natufe and National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Victor Oruno called on Okpe nationals to assess all prospective candidates for the presidency, vice presidency, governorship, the National, Assembly and the State Assembly of all political parties before casting their votes in 2027.

“As we enter the season of another election cycle in Nigeria, we expect politicians to be flocking town and village halls distributing cups of rice, beans, wrappers, etc to buy the votes of Nigerians, including Okpe nationals. This is an opportunity for critically minded Okpe nationals to assess all prospective candidates – for the presidency, vice presidency, governorship, the National Assembly, and the State Assembly – of all political parties before casting their votes in 2027. Therefore, we call on Okpe nationals to begin the process of assessing the performances of current incumbents and prospective candidates of all political parties not through the prism of political affiliations, but on the basis of individual candidate's suitability.”

The union identified the development and sustenance of Okpe identity as a distinct ethnic nationality, concern over the threat of extinction posed by Okpe language, the need to teach Okpe Language in all primary and secondary schools in Okpe land, the restoration of Okpe language news broadcasts on the state owned television and radio stations, postgraduate scholarship funds, the ploughing of ten percent of funds accruing from oil firms donations to Sapele and Okpe Local Government Councils into an Okpe Scholarship Fund and the establishment of a Board of Trustees to manage the scholarship fund as key elements Okpe must address in order to facilitate the rebirth of the Okpe Nation.

“The Okpe Nation Agenda derives from the communiqué of the Okpe World Conference held in Sapele on November 17 – 19, 2006 organized by the Okpe Voice. It gave rise to the renaissance of Okpe identity as an ethnic nationality. In fact, it also derives from the coronation brochure of HRM Orhue l, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, which recognized Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality. The Okpe Nation Agenda, as expressed in the communiqué of the 1st Okpe World Conference, was approved by HRM Orhue l and his Palace Chiefs on November 20, 2006, at a meeting with the delegates of OKPE VOICE, which included the leaders of the Okpe Union Nigeria, Okpe Union of North America, and the Okpe Union UK Branch.”

The union also listed the conversion of the Sapele Technical College to a polytechnic, involvement of Okpe in state and national politics, periodic meetings between elected Okpe leaders and the Okpe people, the establishment of an Okpe Leaders Forum or Leaders of Thought, empowerment of Okpe women, establishment of an Okpe Monitoring Board and the twinning of Okpe towns with major roads and cities in Europe and North America as a way of attracting foreign direct investment to Okpe land.

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