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Tag: Olorogun Moses Taiga

  • UPU greets Okowa, Urhobo lawmakers

    The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has congratulated Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on his re-election.

    A statement by the President-General, Olorogun Moses Taiga, urged Okowa to use his second term to bring more developments to Urhobo land, in particular, and Delta in general.

    The union also greeted the lawmakers-elect from Delta Central, urging them to always promote Urhobo interest and work towards the development of Urhoboland.

    Read also: Comedian I Go Dye congratulates Okowa

    The statement reads: “The Urhobo Nation is expecting more development projects from the government in the next four years.

    “To those who feel their mandates were stolen, the Nigerian electoral system is not perfect and you have every right to go to court if you feel aggrieved. But every action you take should be legal. No more violence, we have lost too many people already.”

  • Our position on 2019 – Urhobo Progress Union

    President  General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Moses Taiga has called on contestants seeking political offices in 2019 across political parties to sell their programmes to the people in other to get their support.
    Besides selling their programmes to the people, the UPU , President urged contestants to follow due process ; avoid rancour and any act capable of dividing or weakening the position of the Urhobo Nation.
     He said the  precious blood of Urhobo sons and daughters should also not be shed to actualize the  political ambition of any contestant.
    Speaking in an interview in Lagos , Taiga , while congratulating  candidates who have conclusively secured their parties’ nomination to contest the 2019 general elections, he  advised Urhobo sons and daughters vying for various political offices to put the interest of the Urhobo Nation first and above personal interest.

    Read Also: Urhobo urges Fed Govt to revive Delta ports

    The President General of UPU said  the body will continue to work with the political class, irrespective of party leanings, to move the Urhobo Nation forward.
     Taiga said :  “I recognize the passion and the competitive nature associated with the nomination process, but I advise all the contestants across political parties to follow due process, avoid rancour and any act capable of dividing or weakening the position of the Urhobo Nation. The precious blood of Urhobo sons and daughters should also not be shed to actualize any political ambition.”
    ” Such programmes should lead to the enhancement of the well being of the people and improvement in the socioeconomic environment of the Urhobo Nation.”
    He said the  UPU is the Urhobo Nation’s principal cultural body founded in 1931 to meet the development needs of the Urhobo people, who represent the fourth  largest ethnic nationality of Nigeria.

  • Urhobo community decries land encroachment

    President General of Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) Olorogun Moses Taiga has said the Southsouth will continue to agitate for better Nigeria to ensure equity.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos, on the ‘’Current Situation of Urhobo Nation in Nigeria Affairs’’ he said the position of Pan Niger Delta Peoples Forum (PANDEF) on the 16 point demand by the people should be implemented.

    He said discussion and contribution by various communities on the need to restructure indicate the urgency of the matter, adding that Urhobo position was clear on restructuring.

    Taiga urged the Federal Government to honour the principle of federal character which respects the unique needs of Nigerian people.

    He said: “We fear that the principle of federal character has not been fairly applied to the Urhobo people. For instance, we think it wholly unfair that the government of more than 30 ministries, there is no single Urhobo appointee as a Minister.

    “This is despite the fact that Urhobo must be counted as one of the principal ethnic nationalities of Nigeria, in term of its contributions in scholarship, commerce, industry, sports and entertainment.

    “We believe we have excellent candidates who can who will serve faithfully and competently in government as minister. We urge the government to consider this matter urgently.”

    The high chief further noted that Urhoboland is a major contributor to the economic progress of the country, stressing that government should consider the plight of the people to mitigate their sufferings.

    He said it was disturbing that Urhobo people were under represented at the Federal House of Representatives, urging government to address the imbalance in by ensuring fairness and equity through restructuring.

    “In comparison with other constituencies in the Eastern and Western Niger Delta, Urhobo representation by three members is unfair. Urhobo should be represented by not less than six members of the House of Representatives.

    “We understand that the President cannot change this by himself, but we urged him to take this imbalance into account in addressing the ills against the Urhobo nation and in allocating resources.”

    Taiga called on those encroaching on Urhoboland to deviate from it, stressing that the unused lands allocated to the armed forces by the community were under siege.

    He lamented that the matter compounded by the sacking of local farmers from their land by herdsmen.

    “Urhobo people have been generous in allocating lands for use by the Nigeria Armed Forces, particularly at Uvwie Okpe and Oggara kingdoms. We understand that in many instances parcels of land allocated to the armed forces have now been converted to private use.

    “We believe that this is wrong practice, we urge that any unused land should be returned to the community which was by the people. We await the immediate intervention of the President in this matter.

    “We wish to make it clear that the livelihood of our farmers are now under threat from the uncontrolled grazing that involved the deliberate killings of farmers, who have done nothing wrong, but to go to their farms. It is the obligation of government to protect farmers who ply their livelihood in farms from armed killers,” he said.

     

  • Herdsmen: Urhobo calls for Buhari’s intervention

    Herdsmen: Urhobo calls for Buhari’s intervention

     The Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the escalating Fulani herdsmen menace across Urhoboland.

    President General of the UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga, made the call at the opening ceremony of the 86th Annual Urhobo National Day Celebration, held at the national secretariat of the UPU in Uvwiamughe, Agbarhor in Ughelli North council area of Delta state.

    The  leader, who alongside other dignitaries unveiled an Urhobo language curriculum for primary and secondary schools at the

    event, also noted that many  communities had been seriously devastated by the activities of the herdsmen.

    According to him, though the situation is a national problem, the UPU is concerned with the untold Socio-economic and cultural problems the

    menace had brought on the people, adding that the body had begun exploring ways to protect its people against the threat.

    He charged President Buhari to urgently tackle the lingering issue, which he described as a major threat to the unity and corporate existence of the country.

    Meanwhile, the UPU has launched a new module for teaching the Urhobo language at the primary and secondary school levels of education.

    The module, titled ‘9-years Basic Education Curriculum’, was compiled by the Urhobo Studies Association (USA) and the Delta State University(DELSU), Abraka.

    The well attended socio-cultural event, was graced by the Delta state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor, Chief James Ibori, former Senator

    Ighoyota Amori, Professor Godini Darah, several Urhobo monarchs and a host of other  dignitaries.

     

     

  • Yinka Taiga buries mum

    Yinka Taiga buries mum

    These are not the best of times for Yinka Taiga. She recently lost her mother, Madam Olofunmilayo Ogunleye, who until her death was noted for her closeness and deep camaraderie with her daughter.

    The late woman was said to have been under the watchful eye of a physician who had attended to her health for some time, but he could do little to alter the course of her destiny as she finally succumbed to the cold hands of death. Determined to bid her late mother the best farewell, Olorogun Moses Taiga gave the late woman a befitting burial in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, penultimate Friday.

    From the class and quality of the casket to her last resting place, the late Ogunleye surely departed in a graceful way. The ceremony did not only attract the creme-de-la-creme of Nigeria’s high society, major players in Nigeria’s business community also trooped out to commiserate with one of their own. Her international friends also flew in to pay condolences and register their support.

  • Fashola advocates respect for fellow men

    •District Grand Lodge of Nigeria clocks 100

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has said the world will be a better place, if human beings treat one another with respect.

    He spoke at the Lagos House, Marina, while hosting members of the District Grand Lodge of Nigeria, led by the District Grand Master for Nigeria, Olorogun Moses Taiga, who were there to inform him of activities marking the group’s centenary anniversary.

    Fashola said: “At a time when the world faces so much turbulence, if that is the appropriate word, a lot more goodness would serve our world better; a lot more openness will help; a lot more candour and honour will help because, ultimately, the world is not such a bad place.

    “The problems in the world today were created by men and women. I think if more men and women of honour and integrity step up, those problems can be solved.”

    Explaining that not very much is known of the Grand Lodge by the public and many people see it as a secret society, the governor urged members of the organisation “to open their doors to anyone seeking to know more about the group.

    He said with information, people would have a better understanding of what the group is about.

    Fashola said when he told people earlier in the day that he would be receiving members of the Grand Lodge, they expressed anxiety and inquired if he was a member of the group.

    The governor said though he is not a member, he had associated with members, including his former boss, Chief G.N.O. Osakwe, who were known to be of high integrity.

    He said: “Without being a member, I have been surrounded by people who are members and I can bear witness that none of them was associated with anything indecent at the time I associated with them. I have had a cursory look at the list of members of this organisation on your brochure and I saw one of the giants of the legal profession, Chief F.R.A. Williams, and so many other prominent men of honour and integrity.

    “Donation to charity, which are part of the programmes of your organisation, have goodness embedded in your motive. Learning that you have had a church service today (Sunday) suggests to me that, perhaps, you actually believe in God.”

    Congratulating the Grand Lodge on its centenary anniversary, Fashola said: “As a fledgling lawyer, Chief Osakwe took me under his wings moulded my character. He was a good boss. His hindsight was always 20/20 for our benefit and I have never known him to do a bad deed.”

    Taiga said their visit was to congratulate the governor on his 50th birthday, condole with him on his father’s death and inform him of the group’s 100th anniversary.

    The group was formed on July 15, 1913.

    Giving a brief background of the organisation, Taiga said Nigeria was not in existence when it was formed. He said: “Then it was the District of Northern and Southern Nigeria. A lawyer, Justice Willoughby Osborne, who was the chief justice of Southern Nigeria, became the first Grand Master. It was formed right here in St. George’s Hall, 28, Broad Street. Six Lodges were formed and five of them are still alive with four in Lagos.

    “Essentially, we contribute a lot to charity. In fact, we fully finance an organisation in Ikeja. We are a charitable organisation after the betterment of mankind. We have been here for 100 years and will continue to be here for another 100 years more.”

    Taiga was accompanied by Osakwe; MW PRO Grand Master, Peter Geofrey Lowndes; Elie Rossek and Prof. Guy Charlesworth, among others.”