Dear Chief Ese Gam,
President-General, 
Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).

1. I believe this letter finds you well, albeit with a heavy heart as we grapple with the devastating events that have befallen our beloved Urhobo community of Okuama. It is with profound sadness and a sense of urgency that I write to you today to address the pressing issue of disunity among our people and its dire consequences. One of the consequences of such is what we have at hand in Okuama Community. As one rightly said somewhere *Okuama is no more!*. This is heart-wretching.

2. Sir, as you are undoubtedly aware, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the Nigeria Military launched a brutal invasion on Okuama Community in retaliation for the tragic loss of 16 of their soldiers. They razed our community of Okuama to the ground, leaving our fellow Urhobo brothers and sisters displaced and destitute in the unforgiving thick Equatorial forests. The inhabitants now wander in the forests without water, food, shelter and communication. These are the elderlies, women, children and the sick. The excuse of the Nigeria Military is that they were on a "purported peace" mission to our Okuama community a day before. On their way out of the community the people of Okuama attacked and killed all their soldiers on that purported peace mission, as they claim.

3. Painfully, no one is talking about the innocent children, women, youths and elderlies who were killed in the community without any form of provocation. These innocent people were having their peaceful community Town Hall Meeting before the Nigeria Military entered their Community, demanded the arrest of their (Okuama) Chairman and other Executives. The soldiers shot and killed the people of Okuama in their Town Hall, and in their community when the people said their Chairman and executives cannot go with them (the soldiers) after the "peaceful talk" they claim they came for.

4. Nevertheless, in the wake of this tragedy, our cries for help have fallen on deaf ears, with both the government of Delta State and the Federal Government callously refusing to allow relief materials to reach the suffering inhabitants of Okuama community. This disregard for our plight is a stark reminder of the harsh reality we face due to the lack of unity and solidarity among our Urhobo nation.

5. Furthermore, the consequences of our disunity are grave and far-reaching. Not only are our people left to endure unimaginable suffering and hardship, but our collective voice is weakened, and our ability to advocate for our rights and well-being is compromised. We cannot afford to continue down this path of division and apathy.

6. However, amidst this darkness, there is still hope. We have the power to effect change and address the challenges we face, but it requires a united front and concerted effort from all members of the Urhobo community. It is imperative that we set aside our differences and come together to support our brothers and sisters in Okuama and to demand justice and accountability from the authorities.

7. Sir, let me also seize this opportunity to inform you of the undeniable fact that there is a grand plan to annex over 30 Urhobo communities, especially those in the riverine areas, by our Ijaw neighbours. What is happening in Okuama Community is planned to happen across all Urhoboland in the riverine areas. This should not be allowed.

Practical solutions to our current predicament include:

1. Mobilising resources and humanitarian aid: We must pool together our resources and collaborate with local and international aid organisations to provide immediate relief to the displaced inhabitants of Okuama community.

2. Advocacy and lobbying: We must leverage our collective voice to advocate for the rights of our people and to demand that the government grants access for relief materials to reach Okuama without delay.

3. Strengthening community ties: We must actively foster a culture of unity, love, and mutual support within our Urhobo nation, transcending tribal, political, and personal differences.

4. Empowering grassroots initiatives: We must empower local leaders and grassroots organisations within the Urhobo community to take ownership of relief efforts and community development initiatives.

5. Sir, the time to act is now. Let us stand together in solidarity and resilience, drawing strength from our shared heritage and common humanity. Together, we can overcome the challenges before us and build a brighter future for all Urhobo people as enshrine in the UPU Constitution.

Yours faithfully,

Austin Orogun

Wado Admin

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