Group Picture at the End of the Meeting
As part of arrangements to drive the Uvwiamuge declaration to fruition come 2015, the leadership of the Urhobo youth has commenced a bridge building process across ethnic divide within the state. On the 31st of December, the Comrade Ovie Igho Anthonty led transformational UPU Youth wing met with the Itsekiri youth leaders at the 911 spot bar in Ekrede Itsekiri, Warri. The PRO of the UPU Youth wing, comrade Marcus Ekure opened the stage with prayer after which there was an introduction of Attendees on both side.
As part of his introductory remarks, he noted that the Itsekiri and Urhobos have enjoyed good neighbourliness and age long relationship marriage wise, business and otherwise and that the meeting of the duo was strategic and pivotal to continued peaceful coexistence and tranquility amongs them. Shortly after introduction, comrade Rex Anighoro made a brief trek into the main agenda of the meeting. 
In his remarks, while commending the president of the Itsekiri national youth council president, Comrade Esimaje Awanni for his receptiveness and openness , he retrospectively ex-rayed the relationship history between the Urhobos and the Itsekiri and emphasized the need for continued brotherhood. In his words, ‘’ from the onset, the Itsekiris and Urhobos have lived as one up until some of our politicians for selfish reasons stated giving us reasons to fight ourselves by amplifying our differences over our similarities. But today’s meeting is historic in that it’s the first time for a very long time, that the youth leadership of both ethnic nationalities are sitting in a round table to chart the course of unity, peace and cooperation for themselves. It is good we focus more on the things that unite us rather than those that divide us at this critical time in the history of our nations’’.
As a prelude to the UPU Youth wing response, comrade Rex Anighoro presented a 3-point agenda to the Itsekiri youth leadership. The first was the issue of some persons impersonating and masquerading themselves as the leaders of Urhobo youths, thereby illegally ripping Urhobo youth off their entitlements at the DESSOPADEC, NDDC, companies and other areas of opportunities. He recounted a case in view that transpired a day or two before the meeting where one comrade Sweet Ejenake of the Urhobo Youth Council, a supposed member of the new Ighele had to impersonate as the president of the Urhobo youths at a meeting of all ethnic nationality leaders called by Chief Ayiri Emiami. The second point agenda he raised was for the President of the Itsekiri youths to broker a meeting between the Ighele and Ayiri as well as the Olu of Itsekiri. More so, he solicited for the support of the Itsekiri youths vis a vis Urhobo governorship come 2015. The UPU Youth wing president on the other hand, advancing on the issue of Urhobo governorship and the imperative of the Itsekiri support emphasized the fact that Urhobo can not go it alone as no ethnic nationality is an island in this regard. On that note, he urged the Itsekiri youth leaders to demonstrate the Urhobo Itsekiri age long brotherhood by coming out enmass to support the Urhobo nation at this critical moment of need.
On the issue of impersonation, the Itsekiri youth leader condemned such act and vowed to join forces with the Ighele to bring such culprits to book even though he acknowledged the fact that the situation was not peculiar to only the Urhobo nation as he had such challenges at the onset of his administration. He however urged the Ighele president to do all he can to harmonize and put his house in order ahead of the challenges currently starring the Urhobo people in the face. The Isekiri youth leader also agreed to broker a meeting between the UPU youth wing and Chief Ayiri Emiami as well as the Olu of Itsekiri as proposed. While responding to the third point of the agenda, and acknowledging the import of synergy, the Itsekiri youth leader stated that ,’’ the Urhobos and Itsekiri would sure achieve more through collective efforts, effective partnership and bridge building than would be achieved individually’’. On that note, he described the partnership move by the Ighele as very key and strategic to success in 2015 as he assured the Urhobo youths of their full support come 2015 guber election. He however admonished the Ighele leadership to do all it can to prevail on the two Urhobo governorship hopefuls for one to step down for the other as the consequences of fielding two candidates would be too enormous in the face of prevalent circumstances in the Delta state political milieu.
In a related development, the President of the Isoko National Youth Assembly Comrade Victor Egbo and his Executive Council Members played host to the leadership of URHOBO Nation Youth body UPU YOUTH WING led by Comrade Igho Ovie Anthony at Oleh recently.
Making a presentation to the Youths of Isoko Nation, comrade Rex stated that the Youths of Isoko and URHOBO Nations presently suffer more depravity in Delta State. He decried the economic and political downturns facing the Isoko Nation which today has become more like expendables and mere appendages instead of real and equal developmental partner. He challenged the youths of Isoko to redefine their destiny by leading a revolution of self determination. He insisted that both the Urhobos and Isokos must unite to reclaim glory lost. He stated that never at any time has the Isoko man become Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister or an Ambassador and that they Urhobo youths have come to identify with the Isokos and their aspirations. He canvassed that Urhobo youths were ready to push the agenda of Isokos for Deputy Governor or Minister even as they solicited their support for Urhobo Governorship noting that the Isokos partnering with the Urhobo was a sure way of emancipating Delta State from neo slavery.He concluded by calling for a mutual alliance between the Isokos, Itsekiris, Ndokwas and Urhobos.
Respnding to the foregoing, the President of the Isoko Youths stated that it was indeed a great day for the Isoko youths as the Urhobo youths have come to wake them up from slumber. He noted that the Urhobo and Isoko are children of same mother and father. He thanked Urhobo youths for seizing the initiative to come visit them, stating that the Isokos will reciprocate such kindness.
He stated that the Ijaws who ought to have been more united with them on account of being in the same Senatorial District has betrayed them and the Urhobos have replaced them and as such promised to stand with the Urhobos. He added that the State does not belong to Tom Polo and that Tom Polo would be paid back in his own coin for betraying the Isokos at the appropriate time. The high point of the meeting was a solidarity and freedom song by the youths of both ethnic nationality with the slogan: Urhobo Isoko ooh- Ovuovo(meaning Urhobo and Isoko are one).
