By John Dugbe / Special Correspondent, Ughelli
Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) President General, Chief Joe Omene, hassaid the union will follow its constitution in dealing with erring members, adding that he said that he still remain the president general of the union despite publication orchestrated by Chief Tuesday Onoge and others to discredit him.
Omene, who spoke to journalists at his country home in Mosogar, Ethiope West Local Government, said the behaviour of the five executive members led by Onoge was unacceptable, adding that the body might be tempted to disclaim them.
He said, “The constitution of the UPU specified how someone could be impeached. They are only trying to pass through the crude way, which I know will not work. UPU is not meant for cabals and extremists. If you belong to that class, you can’t bring it to UPU”.
Omene added: “What happened was that 14 out of the 15 members of the executive were physically present during the monthly executive meeting of the union. The 15th person who was absent communicated with us on phone each time he was called to say his view on the subjects under debate and vote.
“There were only two issues for debate at the meeting, which were: one, should the Urhobo endorse their governorship candidate before or after the presidential election? Two, who, between Ogboru and O’tega Emerhor should step down for the other since the Urhobo will not present two candidates for the election?
“We did not arrive at a common agreement on the two issues, so we put them to vote. In the first voting, 10 voted in support of endorsing a candidate before the presidential election, while five voted against. The majority votes then won.
“The second voting on who between Ogboru and Emerhor should step down for the other and who will be the Urhobo consensus candidate then followed. Eight voted in favour of Ogboru to be Urhobo candidate. One voted in favour of Emerhor, one abstained but remained on his seat while five abstained as well as left their seats, walking out on the meeting. Again, the majority votes won. The executive then ratified Ogboru’s candidacy as the consensus candidate of Urhobo nation.”
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