BY MARTINS EDUJE
The representatives of the National Executive Council of Okpe (Worldwide)ably led by Prof.Igho Nutefe, President General of the Okpe Union (Worldwide) were at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ)on the 13th of August 2025 for a Press Conference informing the public that Okpe is not Urhobo, that Okpe Union is the oldest registered Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria established in 1930 and was registered on 13th December 1934 under the land (Perpetual Succession)ordinance No.32 of 1924, as the umbrella of Social-Cultural Organisation of the indigenes of Okpe kingdom comprising two Local Government Areas.
Addressing the Press, Barr. Kingsley E.Akpederin General Secretary Okpe Union (Worldwide)said, the press conference become necessary to respond primarily to a Press released statement by some individuals on the 30th of July 2025 at Orerokpe by Chief Isaac Itebu, Chief Robert Onome and others, saying Okpe is Urhobo.
The National Okpe Union led by Prof. Igho Natufe wish to state that, that statement didn't emanate from Okpe people even though it was signed by Chief Robert Onome who is no longer in office, "we hereby debunked that statement that "Enough is Enough Okpe is Urhobo". As none of the organisers, including the signatories and attendees of the said Press Conference are qualified to speak on behalf of the Okpe people as Ethnic Nationality in Delta State, stressing that When confronted by some Okpe Chiefs at the venue of the Press Conference at Orerokpe rehearsing and reading out from their fabricated documents they could not give a any cogent reason, rather they said it was a political play.
"We want to state categorically that none of the ONOME AND ITEBU Press Conference and statement have the locus standi or qualification to speak for the Okpe Union and the Okpe Nation".
The press statement further described them as impostors trying to blackmailing the patriotic Okpe leaders (including HRM, the Orodje),who insisted on the distinct Ethnic Nationality status of the Okpe Nation and language, amount to reasonable felony against the Okpe Nation and kingdom.
The statement noted that In a keynote address delivered on September 1st 2007, by HRM Orhue 1 LL.M, CFR, mni, Orodje of Okpe kingdom at the 3rd Annaual Convention of the Okpe Union of North America, held at Marriot Hotel, College Park Maryland, MD.USA HRM said "Okpe is a unique Ethnic Nationality with distinctive roots in ancient history, tradition, culture, custom and language".He also made a phrase that "Okpe in the comity of Nigeria Nationalities" telling Urhobo leaders and other Ethnic Nationalities in Delta State that Okpe is not under any Ethnic group.
The patriotic Okpe Nation would firmly project, protect and defend Okpe Ethnic identity, distinct language and her heritage of independent cultural polity as Okpe personalities has come out with rejoinder that totally condemned the Itebu and Onome watery Press statement, while commending all Okpe sons and daughters who published rejoinders, condemning the Press statement issued by the impersonators describing them as "misguided political chants, written to suit political agenda" "failed all test for veracity".
He said Okpe person is not from Urhobo but geopolitically yes of the commonwealth, stressing that, for instance Nigeria today as a sovereign state is still part of the British commonwealth and they are not British so Okpe and Urhobo are doing political business according to Prof. Sam Oyovbaire. The old Urhobo colonial era was what brought about this this controversy, today the Esan and Etsako people will tell you they're not from Edo State but from geopolitical angle they are from Edo state but internally they're Esan and Etsako people also the Akure people aren't from Ondo and Akure is the capital city of Ondo state. The Okpe identity is Okpe from the Ethnic perspective but some are politically identify as Urhobo which can't be denied,Okpe man should be understood when he says am not an Urhobo but of Urhobo commonwealth, historically Okpe people were grouped along with Isoko people and the position of Isoko people is also the position of Okpe, some people still say Isoko is Urhobo but from the colonial era the Isoko people never said they are Urhobo according to the documents from Prof.Ikimi, the Isoko people requested for the Eastern Urhobo district to be amended to Isoko Urhobo district so from the colonial era Isoko people never agreed they're Urhobo people and that is the position of the Okpe people, we have never agreed we are Urhobo but by geopolitical perspective because the colonial Government named the area as Sobo geopolitically so is known outside geopolitically as Urhobo and in perspective Prof.Igho Natufe and others met to form the Urhobo historical Society not that is that Okpe is Urhobo as at then.
Speaking on the position of the Odogun Okpe position in this issue he said historically the Odogun Okpe is a traditional authority just like kingdoms the Afenifere and yoruba Elders do write so don't commenting on issues like this, during the western region Government Era under the leadership of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo the Okpe people wanted the Okpe area to be removed from the Urhobo Division and be add to Sapele municipal area the Odogun Okpe never wrote rather HRM Usezi 11 summoned the meeting of the Odogun Okpe and got the Okpe Union to do the official writing to the western region so the Odogun Okpe never at anytime say that Okpe from Ethnic or linguistic perspective was Urhobo but Okpe people are in political business with the Urhobos.
According to them the Urhobos migrated from Benin area particularly Udo during the Ogisio Dynasty 11th century AD to Urhobo land, Okpe the father of Igboze with his house hold moved to Olomu early 16th century during the Oba Dynasty for settlement and established his kingdom, he gave his daughter to Olomu in marriage who later took over leadership of Olomu while his only son Okpe move to Okpe Ikpere known as Okpe Isoko with his supporters to establish a new kingdom after his demise his four (4)sons Orhue, Orhoro, Evbreke and Esezi moved to Orerokpe to establish a lager kingdom from which the descendants of the four sons of Okpe (described as ADA-ENE meaning four gates-four ruling house) spread to the territories of Sapele and Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State and beyond that makes up OKpe kingdom today.
The top leaders of Okpe Nation commended the Delta State Governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori for the imminent take off of the Southern Delta University Campus at Orerokpe.
They also urged Oborevwori to consider the completion of the proposed Sapele Polytechnic, Deghele, Elume, which so many resources of the state government have already gone into.
The leaders in a statement in Warri called on President Bola Tinubu to review the situation of Sapele Sea Port, which is the only fresh water natural harbour in Nigeria with huge development potentials in the Nigeria maritime sector. They urged Tinubu to reopen the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Station at Amuokpe in Sapele Local Government Area which has been non functioning for a couple of years now depriving the entire Delta Central Senetorial District and beyond access to national television coverage.
The prominent Okpe leaders advised the minister of works, Senetor David Umahi to propel the companies handling the contracts to accelerate the reconstruction projects.
"The deplorable condition of the Benin-Sapele Highway and the Warri-Sapele Highway have wrecked untold hardship to the economy of the Okpe kingdom and Delta State.
The statement signed by Engr.Francis O. Redemi, 1st Deputy President General,Okpe Union (Worldwide), Mr. Omamurhomu Ayaruja, 2nd Deputy President General Okpe Union (Worldwide), Dr. Lucky Akpere, 3rd Deputy President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide) Mr. Bernard Adibor, 4th Deputy President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Barr. Kingsley E. Akpederin, General Secretary, Okpe Union (Worldwide), enjoined the federal government to expedite action in fixing the failed portions of the Benin-Sapele and Warri-Sapele Highways.
Madam Grace E. Dinna National Women Coordinator, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Barr. Victor Oruno, National Publicity Secretary Okpe Union (Worldwide), Comrade Mary O. Pender, National Youths Coordinator Okpe Union (Worldwide), Comrade David Ajuja, National Secretary, Okpe Union Youths Wing (Worldwide). Also signed the statement.