Urhobo Youths Resist Water Resource Bill

The Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, has rejected the Federal Government’s water resource bill, describes the bill a threat to peace and insecurity across the country.

The Urhobo ethnic nationality also known as Ukoko R’Ighele R’Urhobo, spoke through its president, Ovie Ebireri, while responding to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who on Tuesday during a press conference insisted that there is no going back on the bill.

Reacting to the minister’s statement, Ebireri asked the Federal Government to listen to the voice of reason and discard the proposed bill in the interest of national peace and unity.

Ebireri also speaking, claimed that such bill will dispossess the people of their inheritance, cultural and traditional rights of their water resources.

According to Ebireri, “The insistence on the bill despite the outcry from Nigerians that has greeted it is insensitive and capable of causing more chaos and is a threat to the security and peace in the Niger Delta region.

“The bill is capable of causing further discontentment and conflicts in Niger Delta, especially the Urhobo nation as it will dispossess our people of their inheritance, ancestral, traditional and cultural rights and ownership of her water resources, and we align with the stand of our fathers, UPU worldwide, in unequivocally and categorically rejecting this bill.

“The Urhobo nation, under the UPU, has demanded true federalism and a total restructuring of the country.

“We reiterate these demands and reject this planned bill that only adds more salt to the already bleeding injury to Urhobo because though peace-loving, we Urhobo youths shall not sit idly and watch the loss of our traditional and natural water resources, it will not work.”

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News