Taiga disassociates self from UPU election
One of the leading contenders in the botched Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) election, Olorogun Moses Taiga, has disassociated himself from the process. He affirmed that there was no election “therefore the general public should not take serious any one parading himself as the President General of the socio-cultural organization.”
He described as laughable any individual declaring himself the winner of the election that never held, adding that he and other contenders are waiting for the traditional rulers of the Urhobo nation and other stakeholders to fix a day for all the contesters to test their popularity.
Taiga made the observation at a press conference held at Okpare Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. He noted that the interest of an individual should not override the interest of the people of Urhobo nation.
“I want to make it abundantly clear that I was not part of the ridiculous exercise of holding elections in the private home of one of the candidates for an election for which all his rivals are excluded. There is ample evidence that many of those candidates to whom votes were allegedly allocated including me were not participants in this kangaroo election.
“The election held in Joe Omene’s house at Mosogar is completely illegal and is an act of disrespect to the Urhobo people,” he stated.
He argued that for an election to be valid and legally binding on all, It must be held at Urhobo Cultural Centre along Okere Road Warri or the magnificent Urhobo Centre at Uwiamuge. He alleged that the then President General of the UPU, Joe Omene, ran foul of constitutional provision when he carried election to his personal residence against known practice.
“This must not be allowed to stand. So we are relying on the press to help carry our message and bring it to the attention of all. We will not go into violence. We are protesting and it is wrong for him to continue to parade himself as the President General of the UPU
“I wish to state very clearly that Urhobo people respect their kings, Etota, President Generals, Ehweya and Ighelw. Joe Omene is waging a war against Urhobo kings and their kingdoms. He should refrain from such renegade behaviour immediately. And should refrain himself from parading as Urhobo President General as his tenure of office ended on Monday, December 5, 2016,” he concluded.
