Okpé Leaders Reaffirm Urhobo Identity Amidst Debates
OKPÉ, Delta State – A long-standing debate over the ethnic identity of the Opké Kingdom in Delta State has re-emerged, prompting a decisive declaration from its traditional rulers and youth leaders. In a strategic meeting held in Okpé, leaders unequivocally affirmed their roots, stating, "Okpé is Urhobo."
The gathering, which included the President General of Okpé Union Worldwide, 13 district presidents, and representatives from the Okpé Youth Council, was convened to denounce what they described as misleading narratives aimed at dividing the community.
Leaders present emphasized the undeniable cultural, linguistic, and political ties that bind Okpé to other Urhobo groups. They highlighted shared festivals, dialects, and customs as clear evidence of this connection. Furthermore, they recalled the significant contributions of Okpé indigenes to the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), noting that numerous Okpé sons and daughters have held key leadership roles within the UPU over several decades.
A key piece of evidence cited was the first-ever Okpé National Constitution, written on March 13, 1945, and signed by all "kakurus" and "aquako" of the four ruling houses of the kingdom. This historic document, according to the leaders, clearly affirms Okpé's Urhobo heritage. The Odōgū, the highest decision-making body in Okpé Kingdom on cultural and traditional matters, has also consistently reinforced this identity.
"As far as we are concerned, no position paper has been sent to the Urhobo of [Urhobo National Council]... and therefore those that are propagating all this have not consulted the right institutions," stated a representative at the meeting. They further asserted that Okpé remains the spiritual administrative head of the Okpé Kingdom and people, with historical links to Olomu and a significant role as a central hub for Western Urhobo.
Okpé leaders issued a stern warning against attempts to create division, labeling such efforts as baseless and potentially detrimental to Urhobo unity, especially with the 2027 general elections on the horizon. "Whoever that is propagating that news that [Okpé] is not [Urhobo] should desist from it because we were born to be Urhobo; we are known to be Urhobo," one leader declared. "We have no identity other than being Urhobo, and we are not ready to disengage ourselves from being [Urhobo] people. We are being told we have been... originated from Urhobo, and we stick to Urhobo that we are, and Urhobo we must remain."
From the heart of Okpé Kingdom, the message is loud and clear: United with Urhobo, they stand.
