The traditional ruler of Oghara Kingdom, Delta State, King Noble Eshemitan, yesterday, revealed why Urhobo monarchs staged a walkout on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during his fact-finding visit to the Niger Delta.
According to Eshemitan, Urhobo monarchs did so as an expression of anger over the consistent ‘disrespect’ they had endured from federal government officials.
Vanguard reports that the monarch, who addressed members of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) at the 2017 UPU America convention held in Chicago, USA, also took a swipe at some Urhobo sons involved in the leadership tussle that rocked UPU.
His words: “We were made to gather at the venue from 10a.m. to 5p.m., waiting for the Vice President, who, meanwhile, was visiting two ethnic nationalities that are neighbours of the Urhobo.
“When the Vice President eventually arrived, accompanied by the state governor, the Urhobo traditional rulers, including myself, staged a walk out.
“The governor came down begging us profusely. Why will any government assemble revered traditional rulers as early as 10a.m., for an event that finally commenced at 5p.m.?
“The truth is that the Urhobo and their leaders are not revered. Charity, they say, begins at home and we must, therefore, move beyond rhetoric and start according respect to our leaders by ourselves.
“Also, during the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, an Urhobo minister brought the then Vice President to Urhobo Kingdom for a thanksgiving ceremony.
“Instead of having the Vice President, on arrival, pay courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of the kingdom, the traditional ruler was asked to go to the stadium in the town of the traditional ruler to receive the Vice President.”