By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
Professor G.G. Darah said for over 50 years, Uvwie people have created a conducive atmosphere for businesses and investors to strive just as he said, for Nigeria to move forward, most significant changes that can transform Nigeria’s federating units such as Uvwie in particular and Urhobo in general is political restructuring.
The Professor of Oral Literature, Folklore and Cultural Sciences stated this recently in Petroleum Training institute(PTI) Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state in keynote address at a colloquium as part of activities marking the 15th coronation of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso, Abe 1, JP. OON.
According to him, the federal government and the multinational companies are the major beneficiaries of this conducive atmosphere in this regard. Professor Darah said despite these good opportunities, most of the oil -rich districts of Urhobo which Uvwie Kingdom forms a part in particular and Niger Delta in general, Uvwie have not benefited enough. According to him, the restructuring of the Nigeria Federation would entail the devolution of political, economic, and security powers to the federating units or states.
He said:”Regrettably, like other oil-rich districts of Urhobo and the Niger Delta, the people of Uvwie have become landless and impoverished”.
According to Professor Darah, this situation of exploitation should not be allowed to continue rather, there should be instruments for a fairer and more equitable engagement to enable Uvwie people become substantial shareholders in the businesses and industries and therefore, fresh memoranda of understanding should be prepared to equip Uvwie people to own controlling shares in the existing and future enterprises.
According to Professor Darah, the federating units or states will have 100% ownership (control) over their natural and other resources adding, these states will pay a negotiated tax to the central government to run essential public services. He said, in the restructuring project, each state will have its own constitution and the principles of restructuring will also be entrenched as each local government or kingdom will enjoy the right of 100% ownership and control of its natural resources and revenues thereby pay a negotiated tax to the state government.
He said:”In the light of emerging consensus on public economic ventures, giant industries like the Refinery, Petrochemicals Plant, and the Nigerian Gas Company are likely to be available for privatization. Urhobo/Uvwie investors must be allocated substantial shares in the privatized enterprises. For equity and justice, the policies on local content must be implemented in all the public industries and institutions such that the relevant cadres of personnel must be reserved for Uvwie/Urhobo host communities.”
Giving an example, Professor Darah said, about 75% of employment of middle -level and non-technical cadre should be reserved for locals and the tertiary institutions – PTI and FUPRE – must allocate agreed admission spaces for Uvwie citizens saying, this should be the case because, the people have lost much of their land to industries and government institutions. Speaking further, he said Uvwie people can no longer practise subsistence agriculture and therefore should be allow to design a development master plan to consolidate the status of an industrial society in which they can thrive and prosper.
He said an Uvwie Investment and Development Corporation (UIDC) should be registered to work out the strategies of how Uvwie/Urhobo people can become self-reliant and dominant in certain fields of enterprise saying, the UIDC will engage governments and financing institutions such as the Bank of Industries, African Development Bank and International Agencies that fund economic projects. He said, in order to generate capital to finance enterprise, it is necessary to establish an Uvwie Bank for Commerce and the shares can open to other Urhobo Kingdoms, friends and associates of Uvwie.
He said:” Many of the goods sold in Uvwie and Urhobo markets are produced in other states. This condition dependency should be challenged. Deliberate plans should be made to identify consumable goods and services that must be manufactured in Uvwie/Urhobo land to stimulate economic growth, employment opportunities, and wealth. For example, there could be “Effurun soaps and detergents”, “Ekpan packaged garri and starch”, “Ugbomro Gins and Beverages”, “Ugborikoko Vegetable Oils”, etc.
According to him, in the viable field of catering services, enterprising Uvwie people can develop food brands such as “Ukodo Plaza”, “Amiedi Assembly”, “Oghwo-Evwri Palace” among others, saying, the patronage of these delicacies will further promote Urhobo cultural image and be co-owners and shareholders in the enterprises.
Speaking further, New Housing Policies should be developed in favour of high-rise structures of ten floors and above saying, this is the trend in all modern metropolis in the world adding that, in the next ten years and beyond, fossil fuels for automobiles might give way to electric vehicles. Professor Darah said, this development will lead to the shutdown of many petrol service stations and their premises will be useful for industries, factories, and shopping plazas.
He said, with these developments, the challenges of congested inter-city motorways will be reduced with the introduction of metro-line mass- transit systems and Effurun/Warri and environs will assume the status of a metropolis saying, in the next decade or so, an international wing of the Osubi Airport will be built and this will upgrade the system.
In his paper presentation, Mr. Daro Ejumudo, dealt extensively on the Origin of the Uvwie people. He celebrated Abe I by describing him as a symbol of change and positive transformation in Uvwie Kingdom. According to him, the Monarch’s reign has ushered in greater peace and innovations to Uvwie as he has brought about building of a world – class and a befitting palace . According to him, the throne under the Monarch has remained a force of cohesion, binding together in this regard.
Others who presented papers include: Wado City advocate, Dr. Ejiro Imuere who warned on the long implication of calling Urhobo Towns, Warri as that would lead to diminishing the Urhobo Nation which has the largest population in Delta, Prof. Rose Aziza who lamented the marginalization of women in most Urhobo Communities and the need for a review, Chief Assin Godstime on need for adequate representation of some Urhobo Communities including Uvwie in the political equilibrium in Delta State while Chief Hope Erute commended the late Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Eruowho 11 and reigning Monarch for their contributions to modern Uvwie emancipation.
Earlier in an opening speech, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso narrated his desire to have a concise history of the Uvwie people and that the colloquium was just a stepping stone to achieve his aim. The colloquium Committee Chairman, Chief Omafume Amurun announced that details of the colloquium is expected to be published as a compendium for further study on the history of the Uvwie people.