By; PETER UTEBOR, Asaba A storm is brewing within the Urhobo Nation over a controversial public statement issued by the President-General
By; PETER UTEBOR, Asaba
A storm is brewing within the Urhobo Nation over a controversial public statement issued by the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Ese Gam Owe, Esq., condemning the operations of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) in Urhoboland.
Responding to the publication which appeared as a paid advertorial in a national newspaper on July 5, the coordinators of Tantita from the Urhobo ethnic nationality have described the statement as misleading, divisive, and damaging to the integrity of the UPU, accusing the UPU leadership of making false claims rooted in ignorance and possible ulterior motives.
“It is shocking to us as Urhobos and Presidents-General of various Urhobo communities to see a letter from the UPU President-General promoting division and hate against non-Urhobos,” the group said in a joint press statement. “This is contrary to Article 2 of the UPU Constitution which preaches good neighbourliness with non-Urhobo people.”
Central to their outrage is the assertion by the UPU President-General that the Urhobo people had reached a resolution to reject the continued presence of Tantita in their communities.
The coordinators dismissed this as fictional, stating that no such General Assembly, as claimed by the UPU leader, was ever convened.
“Article 5(a) of the UPU Constitution speaks of an Annual Urhobo National Congress, not a so-called ‘General Assembly Conference’ mentioned in the statement. If such a meeting held, where is the notice, agenda, or minutes?” they queried.
They further expressed dismay at what they described as a poorly written statement riddled with typographical and factual errors, including the repeated misspelling of Tantita’s name.
Beyond the semantics, the coordinators emphasized that Tantita’s presence in Urhoboland has been overwhelmingly beneficial.
According to them, the company currently employs over 3,500 Urhobo indigenes across 88 communities in 16 kingdoms—making it the largest private employer in the area.
“From Iwhremeraga to Unenurhie, from Kokori to Ugbomro and Ibada-Elume, Tantita is deeply rooted in Urhobo communities,” the statement reads. “Every kilometre of pipeline passing through Urhobo land is protected by Urhobo sons and daughters.”
They accused the UPU President-General of ignoring the track record of security improvements, community involvement, and employment generated by Tantita in favor of ethnic rhetoric that could jeopardize the gains achieved in curbing oil theft and environmental degradation.
“For over two years, Urhobo operatives have helped reduce illegal refining and vandalism to the barest minimum. Not one community has raised a complaint. So, why this sudden attack?” the group asked.
They also dismissed the notion that only Urhobos should secure pipelines in Urhobo land, warning that such ethnic exclusivity could backfire on Urhobos doing business in other regions.
“Tantita won the surveillance contract based on competence and capacity, not ethnic connections,” the coordinators stressed.
In their concluding remarks, they urged the public to resist attempts to use ethnic platforms like the UPU for blackmail or extortion, insisting that the values of unity, cooperation, and peace as espoused by the UPU’s founding principles must be upheld.
“Our commitment remains to peace, progress and mutual respect not to pettiness or divisiveness. No one is more Urhobo than the men and women sacrificing daily to protect Nigeria’s economic lifelines,” they declared.
COMMENTS