Top leaders of Okpe Kingdom on Sunday reflected on the historical position of the Okpe Union, emphasizing Okpe growth journey, the role played in the restoration of the Okpe Monarchy and the mission to transform Okpe Kingdom.
“Since the restoration of the Okpe Monarchy on the 1st of January, 1945, after an interregnum of over one hundred and fifty years, the Orodje Institution has gradually re-established itself as one of the most important centres of administrative stability in Nigeria, contributing to the socio-economic and political evolution of the country and, most importantly, to inter-ethnic relations in the then Midwest Region (later known as Bendel State) and now Delta State.
They also stressed the union’s push towards the recognition of the Okpe Nation as a distinct ethnic nationality in the comity of Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria and Delta State.
The leaders in a statement in Lagos vowed to work with the Orodje institution, the Udogun Okpe and various Okpe organizations and stakeholders of the Okpe Nation to promote the Okpe Ethnic Nationality as a bridge for a united Delta State in which the people’s welfare should be the focus of the government.
The statement signed by Prof. O. Igho Natufe, President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Barrister Kingsley Akpederin, General Secretary, Okpe Union (Worldwide) and Barrister Victor Oruno, National Publicity Secretary, Okpe Union (Worldwide) said the occupants of the Orodje Stool during the Midwest and Bendel eras were positioned as Deputies to the numero uno of the Region, the Oba of Benin.
“At the creation of Delta State, the transited Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhoro I became the Pioneer Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers. In sustenance of the legacy of the Okpe Nation being the rallying centre for the unity of the various ethnic nationalities of the Delta area, it is heartwarming that the Delta State Government recognized and appointed HRM Orhue I as the Chairman, Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers. With this position, HRM Orhue I has contributed to the peaceful coexistence and security of our dear Delta State”
The prominent Delta leaders issued the statement on behalf of the National Executive Council of the Okpe Union, its Board of Trustees and members of the branches of the Okpe Union the world over.
They expressed warm felicitations to His Royal Majesty, Orhue I, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, and all Okpe nationals on the twentieth anniversary of the 20th coronation being commemorated 13th to 22nd of November 2026.
The leaders praised the Okpe traditional ruler for his leadership and initiatives aimed at uplifting the good people of Okpe Kingdom.
“Back home in the Okpe Nation, there has been notable and sustained upliftment of the infrastructural landscape of the Okpe Kingdom since 2006 when HRM Orhue I ascended the throne of the forefathers of the Okpe Nation. The Okpe Nation has moved from the highest political position of Deputy Governorship she ever attained in the 2nd Republic to the Governorship of Delta State currently, after the position of House of Assembly speakership had been occupied consecutively by two Okpe sons during the reign of HRM Orhue l”
They lauded Orhue l for ensuring that the Okpe Language was officially recognized by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
“This paved the way for the official recognition by the Delta State Ministry of Basic Education of the Okpe Language as the Local Language to be taught in the Primary and Junior Secondary Schools of the two Local Government Areas of the Okpe Kingdom”
The leaders urged Okpe nationals to work towards the restoration of the recognition of the Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality as it was in the Midwest Region and Bendel State to pave the way for its rightful status under the DESOPADEC Law.
“This has short changed Okpe from attaining a fair quantum of infrastructural projects, bursary allocation to Okpe Students and such offices as exclusive DESOPADEC Commissioner, Exclusive Executive Director in DESOPADEC and other development agencies despite the distinctiveness and size of the Okpe Nation.
The leaders while welcoming the restoration of the Sapele Constituency 2 and the Okpe Constituency 2 for the House of Assembly under the reign of HRM Orhue I, called for the restoration of Sapele Federal Constituency which made the Okpe Nation to have been represented by two members in the House of Representatives at the Federal Level (Sapele and Okpe Federal Constituencies between 1979 and 1993).