How Urhobo Nation Will Return to their Original Political Party, SDP
Ezekiel Kagbala FPR
Accorded to the Urhobo Historical Society, During the third republic, the majority of Urhobos joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP, a nationwide party. An Urhobo son, in the person of Chief Felix Ibru, became the first Executive Governor of Delta State.
On the national scene the SDP which presented Chief M.K.O. Abiola as Presidential Candidate and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as his running mate were heading for electoral victories when the elections were stopped by the military and subsequently, the Delta State, Urhobos at that time, held the SDP as their main Political party.
The first civilian governor of Delta State, Late Olorogun Felix Ibru played key role in the democratic evolution of the country. He was the focal-point and motivating factory that perhaps, positioned the party, SDP at a vintage choice for the Urhobo nation and by extension; all Deltans.
After the creation of Delta State from the former Bendel State on August 27, 1991, on July 4, 1992, Dan Azinge represented Delta North, Francis Okpozo represented Delta South and W.O. Eradajaye represented Delta Central, they all won on the platform of SDP.
Every indication proved that SDP was the party used by Urhobo Nation to retain its pride of place from the inception of Democracy and the creation of Delta State.
Recall how 24 kingdoms that make up Urhobo nationality joined the founding Urhobo leaders to come up with a philosophical slogan of “Urhobo Ovuovo”. The same reason made way for the formation of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU where Felix Ibru served his Urhobo people as the President-General, he was a voice and force of Unity.
During a contest involving Urhobo sons and other ethnic groups, UPU was obligated to back its own, Chief Felix Ibru when he ran for the office of governor.
Until his death, Ibru held the position of President General of UPU l. To build on that, the Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi has considered it a privilege to consolidate on that trajectory, calling on Urhobo's to demonstrate their strength of unity by joining the SDP, restore it's unity and take the front state of governance in Delta State.
Going by obvious successes, there is proof that SDP means progress for Urhobo's. In 2015, SDP Delta State House of Assembly candidate for Uvwie Constituency, Hon. Efe Ofobruku was declared the winner of that election.
Exactly a week after he (Gbagi) withdrew from PDP and the governorship primarimaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He emerged as the governorship standard-bearer of the SDP for the 2023 Governorship Election.
From all indications, again Urhobo's are tracing back to their rightful Political party, SDP after the ruling party became self-serving, protecting narrow sectional interests to override genuine interests.
Gbagi is now in SDP to restore the glory of Urhobo Nation, they now have a party SDP to call their own. As a wake-up call, the entire Urhobo Nation is invited to Join the SDP which is now a party for all Nigerians and Deltans in particular.
Recently, while addressing President-Generals of the 24 kingdoms under the aegis of Forum of Urhobo President-Generals, Gbagi declared that “I have no other interest other than that of Urhobo’s. I am a patriot of Urhobo. My father was. And what my father bequeathed to me was the patriotism of Urhobo nation and that is what is making me struggle, nothing more”.
With Urhobo president generals volunteering their complete Support for Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi of the SDP, one could read between lines that Urhobo's are wise and will act accordingly.
