Okpe Union Accuses Monarch, Orhue 1 of Betraying Ethnic Cause

The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I, has been accused by a socio-cultural organisation, the Okpe Union, of abandoning the community’s distinct ethnic identity in favour of political ambitions.

During an event marking the Union’s 95th anniversary in Lagos on Friday, its President General, Professor Igho Natufe, accused His Royal Majesty Orhue I of promoting a narrative that classifies Okpe people as part of the larger Urhobo ethnic group,  a move the Union describes as a betrayal.

“There are two contending trends in contemporary Okpe polity,” Prof Natufe said. “Okpe Union represents the first trend that agitates for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality… The second trend, currently championed by HRM Orhue l… regards Okpe as Urhobo.”

The Union claims the monarch reversed his long-standing support for Okpe ethnic autonomy to gain political leverage, including support from Urhobo leaders in his bid to chair the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council.

“This is a reflection of the current position of HRM Orhue I, which, for selfish reasons, reverted to the British colonial policy that classified ‘Okpe as Urhobo’, to secure the support of the Urhobos,” Natufe said.

The rift, which has been brewing for years, reached a boiling point this week as parallel anniversary celebrations were held, exposing the fracture within the community. While the Union marked its official celebration in Lagos, a rival group held a simultaneous event at the Okpe Palace in Delta State, reportedly promoting Okpe as the largest Urhobo Ethnic Nationality.

The Union dismissed the palace-backed gathering as a distortion of history and a betrayal of their decades-long campaign.

Speaking further, the Union recalled a past disagreement with the monarch in 2010, when he allegedly opposed efforts to seek government recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic group under Delta State’s development framework.

“To put it bluntly, this position is a betrayal of Okpe Identity and a betrayal of the Okpe Nation,” the Union said in a statement.

Despite the tensions, the Union has vowed to press ahead with its campaign for recognition of Okpe as a separate ethnic group, insisting it will not be silenced by what it calls internal and external hostile forces.

The Palace has not yet responded to the allegations.