Mrakpor, Ohworode, DBS General Manager Bags Award As Yoruba Community Celebrates 2021 Annual Day in Ughelli Delta State

 Mrakpor, Ohworode,  DBS General  Manager Bags Award  As Yoruba Community Celebrates 2021 Annual  Day  in Ughelli Delta State 

By Wilson Macaulay

Ughelli

 Ughelli Metropolis was agog on  Saturday 18th, December  2021 as the entire Yoruba Community in Ughelli Delta State celebrated her Annual Day amidst pump and pegeantry to the glory of God.

The well attended function Which was

held at the Ughelli  township stadium saw  Hon  Dr Peter Mrakpor (SAN) FCARB , HRM Dr Ovie R L Ogbon  Ogoni Oghoro l  (JP ) RDN,RCN, OON, the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, Pastor Malcom Oteri,  Genereral Manager  Delta Broadcasting Service DBS Warri, and others were  honored with award of  excellence for their various  contributions  towards the overall development of Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general.

 Hon Dr  Peter Mrakpor SAN, the Special Guest of Honor in his goodwill message 

appreciated  the Yoruba  Community for their unwavering commitment in keeping and promoting culture and their  ability to integrate the various peaceful  interactions  from one clime to another.

The former Attorney Genereral and Commissioner for Justice thanked  the leadership of the Yoruba people in Ughelli in Particular and Delta State in general for their peaceful engagement and  harmonious living with the Urhobo people of Ughelli and environs.

 Dr Peter  Mrakpor one of the leading 2023 Delta Governorship aspirants  reflected that the Yorubas and the Delta ethnic nationalities have similar culture living as  one people and they  will continue to live and work together for  one good purpose .

HRM, Ogbon Ogoni Oghoro l  JP the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers , Delta Central, who was ably represented by High Chief Ebrobota Simon  while    speaking  on behalf of the awardees, appreciated the Yoruba Community for the honor bestored on all the recipients of the awards.

Speaking further, Chief Ebrobota remarked: " lndeed  l  commend the effort of Prince Olatunde Victor Olasupo

(JP), the Asiwaju of Yoruba Community, Ughelli North   for   going thus far   by using the auspicious occasion of  the 2021 edition of Yoruba Day to give us awards of excellence for our various services  and contributions to the betterment of our  society."

High Chief Ebrobota explained  that the

award is a call on all the awardees  to do more because to whom  much is given much is expected.

 Alhaji Lawal Famous Maroof, the Asiwaju General, Yoruba Community, Delta State in his key note address 

thanked Governor lfeanyi Okowa of Delta State, HRM, Evang.Dr Wilson Oharisi lll the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Dr Ovie Ogbon Ogoni Oghoro l , the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom the two  Royal Father's of the day, for always playing their  fatherly role in all the affairs of the Yoruba Community.

He added : ' We enjoy a very good relationship with the  Monarchs, as      "Fathers  and Sons"  at all times without any form of resrtiction as the  doors of their  Palaces are widely  thrown   opened for brotherly love engagement which has  blossomed over the years with a lot of intermarriages spanning  over fifty years with grand children every where as living testimonies of the amiable disposition of the Urhobo people towards the Yoruba Community."

 Hon Comrade Francis Obule (JP), the Delta State Coordinator of PDP Mobilizers,  a notable Chieftain of the Party from Sapele LGA who was present as a Special Guest while   speaking at the ceremony noted that it  is worthwhile to celebrate with the Yoruba Community because the cultural affiliation between the Urhobos and the Yorubas runs deep and far to the roots of both ethnic nationalities.

 

According to Hon Comrade Francis Obule, the erudite Justice of Peace,

there are many Urhobo people born in Yoruba land, some even bear Yoruba names, Which shows how closely  knited and comely the relationship has been and they rewill continue to stay together till the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Continuing , he pointed out saying : " l am highly elated to be part of the 2021 edition of the Yoruba Day Celebration here  in Ughelli township stadium . Particularly, l am  impressed with the rich cultural display of the various aspects of the very rich and colorful cultural heritage  of the Yoruba people.  lt is my prayer  for them to blossom like the palm tree  Which  flourishes  all through  the year, in  an uninterrupted cycle of Production."

Earlier in his welcome address, Prince

Olatunde Victor Olasupo (JP ) the Asiwaju of Yoruba Community Ughelli North  stated that the 2021 edition of the Yoruba Day Celebration in Ughelli and it's immediate environs  is an ample opportunity to allied together as one body to express the Group's   profound gratitude to the State Leadership, the  Ughelli North Local Government, the Royal fathers, Particularly those of Ughelli, Olomu and Ogor kingdoms which have been exceptionally very  accommodating.

Prince Olasupo the Asiwaju of Yoruba Community in  Ughelli North 

affirmed that  Ughelli and Urhobo land  is  indeed home out of home  because  the people are kind,  lovely always  displaying a unique and wonderful hospitality of the highest order with a very  warm air of conviviality.

The Asiwaju of Yoruba Community who doubles as the Delta State Chairman of the Association of Justice of Peace observed in his welcome  address that historically, either oral or written, the Yorubas and the Urhobos and other immediate Communities within the Present Delta State have been together since the creation of man.

The Asiwaju who emphasized how compactible the Yorubas  are with the Urhobos said : " Statistically, the number of Urhobo people residence in Yoruba  land is about fifty percent of  the total number of  Urhobos at home,

adding that, the Urhobos as our guests at home have equal rights and opportunity  with their host communities because of the historical linage 

While speaking on the warm disposition of the Urhobos towards the Yoruba Community in Ughelli North and Delta at large Prince  Olatunde Victor Olasupo JP the Asiwaj said : "  Some of our  Yoruba people have stayed here in  Delta for over 50yrs even married with great grand children without any iota of molestation or intimidation, that is why

we keep saying it as  an attestation  that Ughelli and the whole of Urhobo Land  are indeed very   friendly."

The Asiwaju who canvassed the need to   further strengthen and deepen the roots of the existing cordial relationship between the Urhobos and the Yoruba Community  posited : "   In the right frame of mind, it is our eamest desire having become natives by role and conduct we can  function together as an entily to attract meaningful development to this land, even from community to local and State level ."

To underscore how concerned they are   about their  quest  to contribute their quota to the Progress of Urhobo  land,the Asiwaju of Ughelli North averred thus:

 "The Yorubas as  peaceful  and God fearing people are ready to commit part of their life to the growth and development of their host communities provided  there is peace and unity  in that vicinity.  

Asiwaju Olasupo in his address   promised to obey and work with any  constituted authority be at Community, Local or State level, adding that  ,  we

the  Yorubas  as your own people have  pledged  our allegiance to support any 

 genuine effort to fastrack the growth and development of Urhobo land .

 While speciphically addresing the State Government on the need to extend more hand of fellowship to Non indigenes across board, Prince Olasupo the Asiwaju of Ughelli said : "We use the auspicious moment of the 2021 edition of the Yoruba Day celebration to compassionately  appeal to our respected and ever listening Governor of Delta State , His Excellency, Senator   Dr lfeanyi Arthur Okowa through the Ministry of Land and Survey to provide us with a parcel of land for our secretariat building and a mobility for easy movement within and outside the State ."

The Asiwaju of Ughelli North   equally solicited the cooperation of Governor Okowa  for  opportunity to be given to the Yoruba  people  to serve in his  Government as the Yorubas are   proud to be part of the  laudable SMART Agenda that is determined to leave a legacy of a Stronger Delta at the end of his second tenure  in  2023.

Prince Olatunde Victor Olasupo the Asiwaju of Ughelli called on the Delta State Governor  saying :,  "We would appreciate Your Excellency, if the ministry of non - indigenes is created to accommodate some of our people and other non - natives to oil the wheel of our economic and political development."

The Yoruba Community Leader  who  also urged the  Delta State Government to deepen the roots of  democracy   through a more  inclusive participation in Politics said ,: " We would also appreciate our amiable Governor,  if we are given the opportunity to contest in any Political Position such as Local Government Councilor, Local Government Chairman or as State House of Assembly Member (s) as it is practicable in other places like Ondo State, Lagos State, Kano State etc. 

  Asiwaju While making request for human capital development for the Yoruba Community said :  "We need your Excellency's financial support especially in  the Area of ​​Micro Finance to boost the economy  of our people who are very enterprising in different human endeavors and very dedicated to prompt payment of taxes which will  shore up the Internally Generated Revenue base of the State.

 In summàtion,  the Asiwaju  called on the Urhobo Royal Fathers  saying :  "Ajuwes, with all sense of modesty and humility, the leadership of the Yoruba Community  would like to  appeal to our Royal Fathers' Particularly  the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom HRM, (Dr) Wilson Oharisi III

and HRM Dr Ovie  Ogbon Ogoni Oghoro l

the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom 

 to have non - indigenes inclusive Government in their Palace  administration for onward development of the Area.