· * Insists On 30-State structures
By Okworide Simeon
The Okpe Union has advocated for a better structure for Nigerian federalism that will reflect devolution of legislative and governmental powers in favour of the component units, while urging the government to establish state Police to stem the current security menace in most parts of the country.
The President General of the Okpe Union, Prof Igho Natufe, stated this during the 95th anniversary celebration of the "UNION" held on the 16th May 2025, at the Union's headquarters in Lagos .
Prof. Igho Natufe, who addressed a world press conference, expressed dissatisfaction over the current state of the Nigerian Nation, especially in the areas of "good governance"
He noted that, in the course of looking for the way forward, the Okpe Union is in close collaboration with other indigenous ethnic nationalities and national organizations, including the Movement for National Reformation (MNR) in crafting a new path for the restoration of federalism and good governance in Nigeria.
‘’Okpe is one of the more than 400 indigenous ethnic nationalities that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These indigenous ethnic nationalities, including Okpe, are the core federating units of Nigeria. Thus, like other indigenous ethnic nationalities, Okpe has a voice in determining the future of Nigeria’’
The Okpe Union used the medium to call for the creation of homogeneous federating states for the 15 most populous ethnic nationalities that have contiguous boundaries, respectively.
‘’These federating units will be 15 homogeneous ethnic-based states for the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio, Okpe, Tiv, etc".
It also called for the creation of a maximum of 15 heterogeneous (multi-ethnic) federating states for the other ethnic nationalities.
‘’An ethnic nationality occupying a defined contiguous boundary in a heterogeneous state shall constitute an autonomous region with due constitutional jurisdictions. It shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with the heterogeneous state over natural resources discovered in its territory; but shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over primary and secondary education, culture, language, and traditional institutions, etc’’.
The Union further urged the Federal Government not to politicize the outcomes of the proposed National Population census.
‘’Okpe Union calls for the proposed National Population Census to be conducted by employing best technology to avoid a repeat of the past where the outcomes were so politicized that many of the exercises did not command the confidence of many parts of the country and Nigerians as to their credibility’’.
The former military governor of Abia state, an indigene of Okpe, AVM Francis Ajobena, who spoke to newsmen at the occasion expressed dismay over non recognition of the Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality by the federal and state governments despite series of agitation regarding the issue.
He noted that, what the Okpe people are asking for is "IDENTITY" stressing that Okpe is not Urhobo as Okpe language is distinctly different from the Urhobo language and there is no way the Okpe people can be classified as Urhobo.