NATUFE URGES OBOREVWORI TO UPLIFT OKPE NATION, SEEKS RECOGNITION AS DISTINCT ETHNIC GROUP

President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide), Professor Igho Natufe, has appealed to Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to uplift the Okpe Nation and formally recognise it as a distinct ethnic nationality in the state.

Natufe made the call while addressing issues of ethnic identity, governance, and development, noting that such recognition would place Okpe on equal footing with other ethnic nationalities in Delta State, similar to the recognition accorded to Ika and Ndokwa communities under former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

“It is gratifying to have one of your own as governor. We are elated and pray for his success.

Fundamentally, we hope he will uplift Okpe Nation and recognise Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality,” Natufe said.

According to him, official recognition would enable Okpe Nation to participate directly as stakeholders in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) and benefit fully from the state government’s development agenda.

The renowned political scientist and international relations expert also reiterated the Union’s advocacy for the renaming of Okpe and Sapele Local Government Areas to Okpe East and Okpe West Local Government Areas, respectively.

Natufe, an alumnus of the Peoples Friendship University and former professor at the University of Ghana and the University of Benin, spoke extensively on the democratic foundations of the Okpe Kingdom, stressing that it is not an absolute monarchy.

He traced the origins of Okpe governance to its founding by four princely brothers—Orhue, Orhorho, Evbreke and Esezi—who established a rotational and elective system for choosing the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, in contrast to the hereditary succession practiced in the Benin Kingdom.

“In a unique democratic experiment, the brothers agreed to crown the youngest, Esezi, as the first Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and instituted a rotational system among the four ruling houses,” he explained.

Natufe warned against the contradiction of monarchies operating within a republican system, arguing that Nigeria’s retention of traditional rulership without constitutional authority undermines democratic governance.

He called on Nigeria to resolve what he described as a lingering constitutional anomaly by either abolishing traditional rulership in line with republican principles or clearly defining the constitutional roles of monarchs within a restructured federation.

On the ideological direction of the Okpe Union, Natufe said the organisation is committed to promoting and defending the political, cultural and economic interests of Okpe Nation in a multi-ethnic Delta State and Nigeria at large.

He accused the British colonial administration of extinguishing Okpe’s ethnic identity by wrongly classifying the group as Urhobo, stressing that the Union’s struggle is one of self-determination.

Natufe likened the Okpe Union’s advocacy to historical liberation struggles, citing American abolitionist Harriet Tubman as an example of principled resistance for freedom.

He also paid tribute to the founding fathers of the Okpe Union during its 95th anniversary celebration held in Lagos in May 2025, describing the organisation as the oldest ethnic union in Nigeria.

Natufe commended members of the Union at home and in the diaspora for their contributions to the anniversary and outlined key achievements in 2025, including expansion of branches and membership.

Looking ahead, he said the Union would intensify advocacy efforts in 2026 to secure ethnic recognition for Okpe Nation, pursue local government renaming, and advance the call for true federalism and restructuring in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Union supports restructuring initiatives and has contributed to constitutional reform efforts, including submissions to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee.

Natufe also highlighted the Union’s bursary programme for Okpe students, noting that 12 beneficiaries received awards in 2025 despite prevailing economic challenges.“We remain vigilant and resolute in defending Okpe national interests and territorial integrity,” he added.