We must revisit the question of unity and ask ourselves, “At what price?” The world is not static.
Prominent activist Sanco Ese has passionately advocated for the Urhobo Nation to consider self-determination in a statement made available to Ejes Gist News. Ese highlights various issues faced by the Urhobo people, including marginalization, oppression, and economic and political strangulation. He emphasizes the need for an Urhobo National Conference to address these challenges and forge a unified path forward.
Ese points out that the Urhobos, despite being the fifth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria and possessing significant natural resources, are treated as second-class citizens. He criticizes the intention to keep the Urhobo people within a flawed and failed unitary state, which he believes has caused grave damage over the past century.
“We must revisit the question of unity and ask ourselves, ‘At what price?’ The world is not static—it is dynamic and changing fast,” Ese stated. He underscored the importance of embracing change and not being left behind, noting that what worked in the past may not be suitable for the present.
The activist called for a legal and peaceful struggle for self-determination, asserting that the Urhobo Nation must speak truth to power and collectively address their fears.
Here is the full statement:
IT IS TIME FOR THE URHOBO NATION TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE OF SELF DETERMINATION
I have always viewed the wickedness perpetrated against the Urhobo Nation with contempt and absolute regret. The killings, the marginalization, the denials, the subjugation, the oppression, the deprivation, the apathy, the economic and political strangulation are second to none, and this, to me, is totally indefensible and utterly unacceptable.
It is time for the convocation of the Urhobo National Conference. It is time to come together, face our fears, speak truth to power, and forge a common front on the way forward for our people.
Urhobos are the fifth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria, with a wealth of material and natural resources that sustain this country. Yet, we are treated with unimaginable rejection, contempt, disdain, and at best, as second-class citizens of this contraption called Nigeria.
It is their intention and desire to keep us together as one in a flawed and failed unitary state with its federal facade in perpetuity, regardless of the grave damage that such a venture has wrought upon our people over the last 100 years.
We must revisit the question of unity and ask ourselves, “At what price?” The world is not static—it is dynamic and changing fast. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go. Empires fall and empires rise. Nations break and new nations are formed. The world is changing, and the great people and numerous nationalities that make up Nigeria must embrace that change, accept it, and not be left behind. What was good for yesterday may not be good for today.
The struggle for self-determination has just begun, and we will follow a legal and peaceful path.
God bless and protect us all.
My name is Sanco Ese I am God’s Pen of Intervention
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