President Gen., Okpe Union, Prof. Natufe praises founding fathers, lauds them for restoring Okpe monarchy
Prof. Natufe..during the occasion
The President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof Igho Natufe, has lauded founding fathers of the Union for their immense contribution to the development of the Okpe nation and Nigeria in general.
He praised them for donating several years of their youth to the service of the Okpe nation.
Prof. Natufe who made this commendation over the weekend during the 95th Founding Fathers Day celebration in Lagos, paid tribute to notable sons of Okpe nation, who has helped in no small measures to sustain the dreams of the founding fathers.
‘’Exactly 95 years ago, a group of young Okpe nationals, mostly cooks and stewards here in Lagos, had the consciousness to found the Okpe Union as the mouthpiece of the Okpe ethnic nationality,’’ he said.
The professor of political science and Sovietologist applauded Thomas Ake, M. A. Ero, Chief Edeghhe and J. K. Ogodo for inspiring Okpe people and creating a paradigm shift in ethnic engagement in Nigeria.
‘’We are gathered here today, at the same spot and on the same day of the founding of Okpe Union. The young Okpe nationals who bequeathed us Okpe Union had the vision to establish a vehicle for the articulation, promotion and defence of Okpe national interests in a multi-ethnic Nigerian mosaic. We are proud to be the beneficiaries of the trust placed on our shoulders to be the mouthpiece of the Okpe Nation’’
He also lauded the leadership qualities of Uweriavwe Ake, J. U. Igberiewe of Okuokpokpor, E. Uwerhievwe and J. E. Ewhiewhie
Particularly, he praised the Okpe Union Founding Fathers for the restoration of the Okpe monarchy.
‘’Following the assassination of HRM Esezi l in 1779 (reign: 1770-1779), Okpe Nation experienced an interregnum for 166 years before a new monarch was crowned on January 1, 1945, thanks to the Okpe Union. It is instructive to note that, there were then several Okpe leaders who voiced serious trepidation about the restoration of the Okpe monarchy, fearing that it could lead to another dictatorship like the reign of Esezi l. It was only after this trepidation was addressed in 1942 that the leaders of Okpe Union continued with their advocacy for the restoration of the Okpe monarchy.
‘’While the reigns of HRM Esezi ll and HRM Orhorho l ushered in a period of democratic development, peace and harmony in their relationships with Okpe Union, the reign of HRM Orhue l has been drifting systematically towards the dictatorship like that of HRM Esezi l,” he added.
