1. Traditional
Greetings
Urhobo Waado! Urhobo
Waado!! Urhobo Waado!!!
Urhobo, Delta,
Nigeria, Isi ri ko ko ri, Isiegware.
Urhobo o! Ovuovo!
Urhobo me na!
Ovuovo!!
Mene Urhobo me na!!!
Ovuovo
2. Protocols
a. The
President-General & Other Executives of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU)
Worldwide here Present or Represented;
b. The President,
Chairman Board of Trustees, Secretary & Other Executives of the Urhobo
Progress Union America (UPUA);
c. Royal Fathers
& Royal Representatives of the Urhobo Nation
here Present;
d. Elected Political
Representatives of the Urhobo Nation here Present & Represented;
e. Eminent Leaders,
Professionals & Innovators, Thought Leaders, Change Agents & Activists,
& Social Engineers of the Urhobo Nation across the World here Present;
f. Women Leaders
& Organised Women Groups of the Urhobo Nation across the World here
Present;
g. Youths Leaders,
Youths Representatives & Organised Youth Groups of the Urhobo Nation here
Present;
h. Friends of the
Urhobo Nation here Present;
i. Ladies &
Gentlemen;
j. All Protocols
duly observed.
Introduction
3. First, I must
sincerely thank our dear President of the UPUA and his patriotic and very
diligent Executives for inviting me to this great Convention. It is an honour
to be part of your aptly framed thematic conversation on ‘Visionary and Ethical
Leadership’.
4. Mr. President,
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is, no doubt, a solemn time for my family and I.
While here in the U.S. in early preparation for this important Convention, my
beloved father, mentor, hero, and patriarch of the Omo-Agege Family of Orhomuru
Orogun, the Honourable Chief Justice James Omo-Agege, OFR (Rtd) transited to
the great beyond. My choice to remain in the U.S. and participate in this
Convention whilst still coming to terms with my iconic father’s sudden exit is
an expression of my absolute respect for his passion, love and commitment to
the cause of the Urhobo Nation.
5. My father the
Honourable Chief Justice James Omo-Agege believed in and lived for Urhobo and
humanity in general. I am bound in absolute honour to his values. So, yes, as a
human I mourn the passage of this sage. But, I must honour him by stimulating
the thoughts, ideas and will power required to build an Urhobo Nation that
speaks to his fine values on visionary and ethical leadership as the
foundations of human progress and development. This is why I am here. And it is
indeed my honour and privilege to be here to learn and also share my humble
thoughts and perspectives on our common task to evolve a new spirit of Urhobo
Renaissance that is anchored on the common good.
Setting Aside Wrong
Leadership Methods
6. Without question,
the Urhobo Nation urgently needs a paradigm shift in major political leadership
perspectives if we must make real progress and develop in line with the
fast-paced global demands of the 21st Century. With the privilege and honour of
my challenging experiential evolvement in our political leadership emergence
systems, I am convinced that now is the time to boldly overhaul all
unsustainable methods in our political leadership space.
7. I strongly oppose
self-harming methods that effectively excise vision and ethics from our
leadership and value system. We must courageously set aside ill-informed
methods that lock out our smartest, best and brightest from our politics,
economy and social relations. We cannot continue to accept primitive methods
that are operated violently to confer parochial benefits on a select few at the
expense of the diligent majority. For posterity, we have a solemn duty to
remove all desperate methods that lock in and promote the very worst in our
people. No society, including the Urhobo Nation, can make progress by ignoring
the dangerous consequences of these very challenging issues, as we now know
them to be.
8. Ladies and
Gentlemen, with humility, I would not be speaking to you today as the Senator
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the Urhobo Nation if there was
no bold, organised and decisive resistance against these internal
self-destructive methods in Urhoboland. Electoral democracy is and must be
about the collective will of the people. When leaders emerge through
compromised elections, they become irresponsible and unanswerable to the
people. If by inaction or complacency, a people wittingly or unwittingly
acquiesced to such a system that shuts their smartest, best and brightest from
leadership opportunities, then they have made a clearly terrible choice to
embrace a future not charted by visionary and ethical leadership. We abdicate
our solemn duty as democratic leaders if we allow that to happen. Whatever
violates basic global tenets of democratic leadership emergence must be
rejected and resisted by all people of good conscience.
9. As it is today,
the Urhobo Nation has some of the smartest human beings on Planet Earth. So
many of them are here in America and in this gathering . Given the enormity of
our leadership challenges, the Urhobo Nation, Delta State, Nigeria and indeed
Africa desperately need them. That is, if we must make sustainable progress as
a people with a common destiny under God. If we must end our rapid
multi-faceted retrogression in our culture, politics, and economy. If we must
end our role as spectators in a fast-paced 21st Century. If we must reverse
lending our smartest, best and brightest to the West at our own peril.
10. But then, the
troubling irony is that there is a morbid fear of our smartest, best and
brightest by a visionless and ethically challenged traditional political
establishment. An establishment that protects it primitive interests by ‘all
foul means necessary’. An ultra-mediocre establishment to whom innovation,
change and repentance from crude methods are taboos. One that reinvents itself
through maximum electoral violence, judicial manipulations, and looted public
funds. The word of God in Matthew 19: 24 comes to mind here. For the
establishment, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle”
than for our smartest, best and brightest to contribute excellence to their
homeland.
11. Ladies and
Gentlemen, this explains the impunity of denying genuine election winners the
constitutional mandate to lead. Besides my example and numerous others, it
explains why our iconic leader Olorogun Great Ovedje Ogboru has won virtually
every governorship election that he has contested but has been serially denied
the legitimate mandate to govern. Here is an unblemished Urhobo leader with
very successful leadership profiles in politics, global business, and
philanthropy, as admitted by even his toughest opponents. A pan-Deltan who is
loved across all ethnic groups in Delta. A firm, decisive and decent leader
with robust governance perspectives whom we trust not to touch a kobo that
belongs to another or the public treasury. One with a clear plan that speaks to
our mutual conviction that we have all it takes to transform Delta as Africa’s
brightest spot of hope and possibilities. One armed with a robust agenda to
engage our smartest, best and brightest in a visionary quest to reshape our
common destiny. A dear brother and peace-loving friend who forgives every
transgression against his person in the overriding interest of all.
12. While some make
the huge mistake of assuming that they hurt Chief Ogboru and others in similar
situations as individuals, the realities of the consistent electoral impunity
evidently tell of harm to our common interests. These realities manifest in the
failure of public governance, with huge multiplier effects on the homeland. We
now have pervasive reversal of our traditional value system encapsulated in the
virtues of truth, integrity, and honesty. There is manifest collapse of public
infrastructure. Conscienceless looting of the public treasury by public
officials has become a norm. There is unbelievably huge unemployment of about
65% due to dearth of businesses and zero social reengineering. Our society is
now in a state of unbelievable social disorientation resulting in kidnappings
for ransom as a ‘business enterprise’. The challenges and problems are huge and
they affect us all.
13. Yes, traducers
may say I was once part of the establishment.
I have a simple answer: I have a right to be wrong. I also have a right
to repent. Recall, Saint Paul was Saul before he became Saint Paul. It took a
Mikhail Gorbachev to bring down the Iron Curtain. Whoever has a conscience that
is alive must wake to the duties of a world of shared humanity. Remember too
that the same establishment also serially stopped me by ‘all foul means
necessary’ from expressing my right to participate in our constitutional
leadership processes. I had to make a firm decision to team up with Chief Great
Ogboru and other progressive forces that are genuinely interested in the rule
of law, ethically sound leadership and the common good.
14. As it turned
out, our people cast their lots with us. They, by the grace of God Almighty,
elected me to the Senate to represent them. That victory was temporarily
stolen. But in the end, God intervened and we prevailed. For me, there are no
victors, no vanquished. The respected Chief Ighoyota Amori remains by dear
elder brother, friend and leader. The Urhobo Nation is bigger than any one of
us. We are united by our common interest as Urhobos.
The Senate
15. We arrived in
the Senate fully prepared to deliver robust legislative representation for the
Urhobo Nation. First, we assembled one of the finest legislative teams ever to
articulate intellectually robust perspectives for the Urhobo Nation in the
Senate. My mandate to that team was simple: The Urhobo Nation must be heard
intelligently and eloquently on the issues and we must deliver real solutions
for our people. Next, working with my Legislative Team and Professor Peter Ekeh
of the Urhobo Historical Society and others in Europe, we assembled teams of
experts and technocrats to advise us from time to time on issues of critical
importance to the Urhobo Nation. These are separate from our fixed organic
connection to our grassroots. We took this position because we do not claim to
have a monopoly of knowledge.
Law-making
FUPRE Bill
16. Upon arrival in
the Senate, we hit the ground running very swiftly with a Bill Establishing the
Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun. For us, it is
unacceptable that there is no enabling law for the only federal university in
our homeland. It is on this basis that we articulated our position in a very
robust and convincing manner in the Senate.
17. Mr. President,
my good report here today is that the FUPRE Bill has been passed by the Senate
and sent to the House of Representatives for reconciliation in line with the
procedures of the National Assembly. That is a milestone achievement for the
Urhobo Nation particularly given that FUPRE was established in 2007. Every
Senator representing the Urhobo Nation since then, particularly our
brother, the Distinguished Senator Pius
Ewherido of blessed memory, took determined steps to get this Bill passed and
signed into law. Unfortunately, this could not be consummated before his
demise. Our success on this Bill attests
to our intrinsic commitment to Urhobo’s common good. Senator Ewherido would be
proud and happy wherever he is.
Sexual Harassment
Bill
18. In response to
the very troubling issue of pervasive sexual harassment of tertiary students, I
introduced a tough Bill for the prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual
harassment of students in our tertiary institutions. Virtually all Senators of
the Federal Republic either joined as co-sponsors of the Bill or supported it.
That Bill successfully passed through the most critical second reading stage
and has been committed to the Committee stage for a report to the Committee of
the whole Senate for passage. I am confident that the Senate will pass and send
it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent when we resume.
19. By way of a brief
adumbration, the law provides for a mandatory five-year jail term for any
lecturer who sexually harasses a student. Vice chancellors of universities and
other chief executives of tertiary institutions will also go to jail if they
fail to act on sexual harassments complaints. The bill expressly allows
sexually harassed students, their parents, or guardians to seek civil remedies
in damages against sexual predator lecturers. In all, I, by this Bill and on
behalf of the Urhobo Nation, forbid sexual predator lecturers to treat our
students as trophies and perquisites of their offices. I am pleased that the
entire Senate is in agreement with us.
Electoral Reforms
20. Also, in line
with a resolution of the Senate, we have submitted a Bill for a comprehensive reform
of our electoral laws. By this particular Bill, I propose to ensure, through
the deployment of smart technologies, that traditional election riggers,
persons with zero electoral value and architects and operators of the methods I
earlier talked about do not continue to emerge as leaders in our political
space. Only those who win free and fair elections will govern or lead. All
bureaucratic bottlenecks designed to exclude our smartest, best and brightest
from the electoral process will be buried for good. Elections are about healthy
competitions. It is offensive to modern civilisation to tactically target and
exclude the most excellent segment of society from public leadership.
Constitutional
Reform – Removal of Executive Immunity from Civil Prosecution from Constitution
21. Having carefully
studied the extensive abuse of the immunity provision in Section 308 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having listened to our
people’s perspectives on the issue, I came to the irresistible conclusion that
we cannot operate a Constitution that condones reckless financial corruption,
economic crimes and other serious civil infractions by a serving President,
Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors in the guise of immunity from
civil and criminal prosecution. I have
therefore submitted a Bill in the Senate to amend Section 308 of the 1999
Constitution accordingly.
22. In moving to
amend the Constitution as said, I am convinced that Nigeria should not to be an
Orwellian ‘Animal Farm’ where ordinary men are killed for stealing water to
quench their thirst while politicians are awarded National Honours for
impoverishing their people and causing installment-like genocides through
looting of public treasuries. Some political executives have done more harm to
our nation than Lawrence Anini whom my father sentenced to death by firing
squad in 1987. By amending the Constitution, we shall hold all men to equal
standards as it should be.
Other Bills
23. Ladies and
Gentlemen, as I speak, the committed people I proudly call Urhobo Nation’s
A-Class Legislative Team are working round the clock with me for our common
good. We are producing a new statute to amend the Companies and Allied Matters
Act (CAMA) 1990 by bringing it to speed with the demands of modern business
dynamics. We are working on a new law to help our banking sector deliver
greater value. A major law in the aviation industry is equally in our
pipelines.
24. Clearly, on the
primary function of a lawmaker, we are committed to uplifting the corporate
image of the Urhobo Nation on the national stage by writing good laws. We are
setting a robust legislative standard in the Senate below which no future
Urhobo Senator can ever operate and expect gold medals instead of knocks from
our people.
25. However,
conscious that a Senator’s role extends beyond pushing beautiful laws, I am always engaged with our
people on connecting the Urhobo Nation to federal opportunities and attracting
federal infrastructures to Urhoboland. In my very first week in the Senate, I
asked federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to furnish me with
their employment and appointments details based on the federal character or
quota system provisions in our Constitution. This was to enable us know our
exact engagement levels and respond in an informed manner on how and where to
best engage our qualified people. With that, the MDAs got our clear message
that it was a new dawn of an Urhobo Nation’s leadership that understands the
complex workings of our governmental processes. They knew we were ready to
assert ourselves, rights and capacities constructively.
26. Backed by my
open door policy, my Office is organised and focused on supporting all Urhobos,
irrespective of political leanings. My interest is the Urhobo Nation and this
extends to Urhobo indigenes outside Delta Central. We are supporting our very
brilliant youths to secure and process federal post-graduate scholarships. We
are actively getting our youths engaged by federal institutions as well as the
military and para-military establishments. We are giving Urhobo corporate
leaders and business people necessary support to participate successfully at
the federal level. We are charting opportunities for qualified Urhobos to be
appointed to federal positions. As a strategic decision, I am engaging directly
with the Presidency and Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to
ensure that our interests are adequately protected in national infrastructure
distribution and execution. This will become very manifest by next year.
27. Ladies and
Gentlemen, I was elected to the Senate on the platform of the super minority
Labour Party (LP). I am the only LP senator in Nigeria. While I am proud that
our people defied all odds to elect me, with my full consent and approval,
Olorogun Great Ogboru, has moved with all of our huge political following to
the All Progressives Congress (APC). This happened after careful and broad
consultations. I support this strategic move because it is in synchrony with my
decision to caucus with the APC in the Senate and my unalloyed support for
President Muhammadu Buhari’s responsible leadership. I shall make a formal
switch in the future. I am convinced that my firm support for President Buhari
and future switch to help organize our people in that regard will best serve
our strategic interests. The considerations are beyond personal gains. The
stakes are too high to be docile, timid or non-strategic in our intricate
national politics. Urhobo must win in the Nigerian Project.
28. I am conscious
of the huge responsibilities on my shoulders as the highest elected political
leader and representative of the Urhobo Nation. Our people did not elect me in
their overwhelming numbers to promote the political isolation of Urhobo. My
election is a mandate on me to apply every tool of responsible leadership to
get things done. This includes building bridges with good leaders across our
country to help our people. This explains my very cordial and robust working
relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari whom I support wholeheartedly
primarily because of his incorruptible pedigree, the humongous challenges he
inherited and his firm convictions to deal with them. As a matter of principle,
supporting Mr. President is easy for me because I know the Urhobo Nation abhors
corruption and supports leaders who respect the public treasury. The Scriptures
admonish us in Proverbs 4:7 that “Wisdom is the principal thing.” We must be
guided by deep wisdom and strategic thinking on critical national issues,
including our leadership choices.
Conclusion
29. Ladies and
Gentlemen, let me conclude by saying that the Urhobo Nation cannot run away
from visionary and ethically balanced leadership if we are to be respected. Our
development and progress rest on doing things right. We cannot continue to
acquiesce to the systematic disqualification of our smartest, best and
brightest from our political leadership emergence processes. No matter how
endowed a people may be, if they choose to walk unrepentantly on roads paved
with obvious sins and mistakes, they will only arrive at Golgotha. When we set,
live and show bad examples, we make ourselves small and become insignificant
with time. The Urhobo Nation’s unmatched demographic strengths, huge material
resource advantages and historical human character strengths should remind and
compel us to be nothing else but champions of our best values of honesty and
truth in all we do. As a leader, my vision is clear. I am irreversibly
committed to the Urhobo Nation I know – one that nurtures, promotes and
celebrates the very best of humanity; one that believes in visionary and
ethical leadership.
30. Thank you for
the audience.
31. Urhobo Wadoo!
Urhobo Wadoo!! Urhobo Wadoo!!!
32. Misiegware!
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