Urhobo Editors and Publishers Alliance Debuts in Ughelli
The Senator representing Delta Central, Ede Dafinone, has charged Urhobo journalists to embrace responsible journalism, promote unity, and help drive the transformation of Urhoboland, describing the media as “one of the strongest pillars of democracy.”
Speaking on Friday, November 21, at the Wetland Hotel, Ughelli, during the inauguration of the Urhobo Editors and Publishers Alliance, the Senator—represented by Hon. Mercy Okiemute Orhierhor Lance—commended the formation of the group and challenged its members to rise to their calling.
“You are the watchdogs of society, the voices of the voiceless, and the bridge between the people and their leaders,” he said, urging media practitioners to safeguard integrity while proudly projecting Urhobo culture and values.
Dafinone pledged to work closely with the Alliance, stressing that credible reporting is essential to accountability. He encouraged the group to use its platform as a force for unity, declaring: “Let this conference not only celebrate your achievements, but chart a clear vision for responsible reporting, unity, and the positive transformation of Urhoboland.”
In his goodwill message, Delta APC founding leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, commended the body for prioritising the Urhobo agenda. He urged members to use their platforms to bring Urhobo issues to the forefront.
“All well-meaning Urhobo sons and daughters must unite to promote Urhobo interest and culture,” Emerhor said. “We must use our influence to project Urhobo. The time has come for our voice to be heard clearly and loudly.”
The tone of the event sharpened significantly when the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Chris Obiuwevbi Ominimini, delivered a fiery and unreserved address. He praised the Alliance’s emergence but openly confronted what he termed Urhobo’s “self-inflicted setbacks.”
“It is a shame that we do not have someone we can confidently call an Urhobo leader,” he declared, warning that any Urhobo individual in power who fails to uplift the nation is “nothing but a fool.”
Ominimini decried the paradox of Urhobo communities hosting vast oil and energy assets yet lacking influence in decision-making spaces. “These resources are enough to make Urhobo a great nation, and yet our people are nowhere to be found,” he lamented, blaming internal divisions and political rivalry for much of the stagnation.
He called on the Alliance to operate as a fearless watchdog, holding leaders accountable. “Government money belongs to everyone. Community money belongs to everyone. If you are not ready to serve, don’t go near the office,” he warned. Confident in the calibre of professionals present, he pledged unwavering support to the group.
Guest Speaker, Dr. Obire Odiakpo, broadened the discussion by highlighting the social consequences of failed leadership. He pointed to dilapidated infrastructure—roads, schools, hospitals—as signs of a region in decline. He also criticised the growing abandonment of the Urhobo language, lamenting that many reject it in public spaces.
“Our language should unite us, but it has become a tool of division,” he said, calling for leaders with courage, vision, and genuine love for their people. He urged the media to create platforms that serve as “shrines of Urhobo honour,” preserving identity, culture, and history. “Urhobos should not follow history — we should make history,” he added.
Earlier, Alliance Chairman, Comrade Fredrick Umurure, described the body as a necessity born from years of diminishing Urhobo relevance in national discourse. He said the Alliance will collaborate with traditional institutions, political actors, and the broader community to ensure Urhobo narratives are boldly and accurately told.
The well-attended event—which drew editors, publishers, journalists, council chairmen, traditional rulers, and representatives of the Delta State Governor—ended on a unified note. The central message resonating through the hall was clear: Urhobo must tell its own story — or risk watching others define it.
