….. Want Sapele Technical College Upgraded to University or Polytechnic
Prominent Okpe leaders have called on the federal government to reward Oklarea being one of the highest oil and gas producing ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region of the country.
The ethic group also asked the government to among other things, transform the Sapele Technical College to a Federal University or a Polytechnic.
This, the group said, will build capacity as well as create employment for the teeming youth of the area.
They called for the reopening of the Sapele sea port which lies in the best freshwater harbour of the country.
The Okpe people, further, charged the Governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to complete the Delta State Polytechnic Elume, Sapele, which construction commenced during the tenor of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
They, further, descended on the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue 1, accusing him of plotting to destroy the union of the ancient kingdom.
The ethnic group, which also called on politicians and other stakeholders to zone the 2023 governorship of Delta State to the Okpe Nation, stated that, “The Okpe Nation has played a continuous uniting role and stability of the state.”
“There are notable Okpe personalities in the kgovernment and politics of Delta State that are qualified and loved by the people of the different ethnic nationalities of the state.’’
At a press conference in Lagos, the leaderssaid there expressed no doubts as to whether the Okpe Kingdom would produce the next governor of Delta State.
In a communiqué read to newsmen by the President General of Okpe Union Headquarters, Mr. Patrick Akpotor in Okpe House, Obalende, Lagos State after the ethnic group’s National Conference, the leaders rejected the purported dissolution of the National Executive Council of the Okpe Union and imposition of a Nine-member Interim National Executive Council for two years.
‘’It is unconstitutional, illegal, and void’’ the leaders said.
They unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the current National Executive Council of the Okpe Union led by Mr. Patrick Akpotor and extended the tenure of the current leadership for five months to enable it conduct a credible free and fair election in compliance with the Okpe Union constitution and the wishes of the majority of Okpe people.
“The Okpe Union 2020 National conference considered the state of the Okpe Union and recent developments regarding the purported dissolution of the elected national leadership of the Union including imposition of an interim committee of the Okpe Union.
The conference noted that the Union, being a registered organization under the Lands Perpetual Succession Ordinance of 1924 and thus under the Corporate Affairs Commission, is an autonomous organization with its constitution and under Nigerian federal laws that govern incorporated non-governmental organizations.
The leaders explained that there was no cause to panic as the Executive Committee would tackle the challenges facing the union.
Particularly, the leaders nominated 15 Okpe personalities to be recommended to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration as members of the Board of Trustees.
The leaders applauded the peaceful nature of all Okpe people.
‘’Remain law abiding and support the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Delta State government of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
‘’That Prof. Emurobome Idolor and Prof. Kenneth Eni who are the only Okpe Union members amongst the imposed Interim National Executive Council are hereby suspended indefinitely from the Okpe Union’’
The Conference also nominated and adopted a five-man Electoral Committee to organize elections into the National Executive Council of the Okpe Union within five months from 14th November, 2020.