By John Oghojafor
Worried by the state of decay of the imposing Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) headquarters edifice at Uvwiamuge, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Olorogun Charles Obule has offered to renovate the building and any other project that may be suggested by the executive of the body.
Olorogun Obule made this offer yesterday, March 31, 2018 at the country home of the President General of the UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga in Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area.
It would be recalled that Olorogun Obule was the highest donor to the construction of the edifice about seven years ago, donating as much as N120 million to the project during the donation ceremony which attracted the who is who in Urhobo land and beyond.
Making this offer Olorogun Obule, who was represented by Prof. S. Ibodje at the meeting, disclosed that he (Obule) has not been very comfortable seeing the decay of the building for which he made huge sacrifice some time ago.
According to Obule, he feels like throwing up, seeing the gigantic edifice decaying so fast, adding that something has to be done urgently to arrest the situation. He also offered that beyond the renovation of the structure, any other priority project conceived of by the UPU executive should be brought to his notice, adding that he is prepared to personally ready and able to take up the responsibility of executing the projects in the interest of the entire Urhobo nation within one year.
Obule therefore called on the executive of the Urhobo body to accept the offer and provide him with details and plans necessary for him to begin, adding that he be given just one year to complete whatever project that will be assigned to him.
Responding on behalf of the UPU President General, the Deputy President General of the body, Olorogun Tony Onoharigho, thanked Obule for the gesture, adding that apart from the decaying headquarters edifice, the body has lined up so many capital intensive projects in its current budget. According to him, the UPU has in its plans to build a Urhobo University and Urhobo Micro-Finance Bank among others.
The President-General however urged Olorogun Obule to make out time to meet with the executive of the UPU to enable them rub minds and intimate him with details of its various needs, just as he called on other sons and daughters of Urhobo land to indicate interest and key into the sponsorship of the various projects which the Union has outlined for the progress and advancement of the Urhobo nation.
He however advised that UPU is apolitical and therefore does not wish to furnish any consideration for those who volunteer to partner with the Union in the sponsorship of its projects and programmes.
Present at the occasion was Olorogun Moses Taiga, the President-General of the UPU, the Deputy President General, Olorogun Tony Onoharigho, the Secretary General, Chief Barr. Ese Gamaliel Owe, the Publicity Secretary, Hon. Abel Oshevire, among other executive members including Prof. S. Ibodje and others.
In a related development, the Edirin Club of Urhobo land made up of Urhobo ladies of substance paid a courtesy visit to the executive of the Urhobo Progress Union at Olomu yesterday.
The women group which was led by its chairman, Mrs. Obakponovwe, used the occasion to present one of their own, Madam Bravo who was recently appointed as Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okowa.
