Group demands apology from Sen. Ede Dafinone for allegedly blackmailing Urhobo for second term, supporting Anioma state over Ethiope (Urhobo) State Creation
Odavwe Urhobo International, a socio-political interest group dedicated to advocating for the advancement and political freedom of the Urhobo people. The Urhobo people have a long history of political and cultural advocacy, which has played significant roles in mobilizing and protecting Urhobo interests politically and culturally over decades.
In a statement signed and issued by Chief Igho Otu ( Chairman) and Chief Samuel Anusha, Secretary, Regarding the recent propaganda campaign disputing the identity of Okpe people as part of the Urhobo nation, Odavwe Urhobo International has called on Senator Ede Dafinone to desist from what they refer to as “cheap damage control”
The Odavwe Urhobo International is taking a firm stance on the matter and expects clear and honest advocacy from their political representatives in addressing such ethnopolitical disputes.
Odavwe Urhobo International, challenges Senator Dafinone to stop deflecting or minimizing his alleged involvement in the propaganda against the Okpe identity within the Urhobo nation, urging him to address the issue transparently.
The group is urging traditional rulers (kings) in Urhobo land to sanction Ede Dafinone due to actions they consider an abomination and sacrilege.
“This indicates a serious cultural or moral grievance against Ede Dafinone within that community.”
A senator representing the Urhobo people could support or sign for the creation of Anioma State, even though the Urhobo people themselves are also demanding the creation of their own state.
Senator Dafinone, who accompanied Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan to Kogi Central, witnessed a massive empowerment program where she gave out sewing machines, welding machines, Keke and other life changing empowerment to her constituents, but unfortunately, his own empowerment initiative only provided 25,000 naira for POS business to his constituents.
The Okpe people, a distinct ethnic nationality within the Urhobo nation, place a strong cultural emphasis on the ability to speak the Okpe dialect.
There is a notable concern about the erosion of the Okpe dialect especially among younger generations, with initiatives in place such as teaching the language in schools and producing written materials to sustain it.
The traditional structures also enforce the expectation that indigenes speak Okpe, and proficiency in the dialect is seen as a core part of identity and representation.
For the Okpe community in particular, and the Urhobo in general, someone who cannot speak the Okpe dialect— or any of the dialects within the Urhobo nation—is likely to be viewed as lacking an essential cultural link to the people they claim to represent or lead.
This linguistic gap is seen as a critical deficiency because language connects the community to their history, culture, and social cohesion.
Thus, if Dafinone or any individual cannot speak Okpe or Urhobo dialects, the Okpe people especially expect authenticity, respect for their culture, and meaningful engagement with their language and heritage as prerequisites for genuine representation.
The expectation extends beyond mere political or economic representation to cultural fluency and respect for the distinct ethnic identity of the Okpe people within the Urhobo nation.
