The Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) on Saturday reversed itself on the excommunication of Senator Representing Delta Central, Chief Ighoyoya Amori, Delta State Speaker, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya, former Minister of Information, Prof Sam Oyovbaire, Member Representing Sapele, Okpe and Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Evelyn Oboro, and Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Erhiatake Ibori.

Chairman of UPU Interim Committee, Chief Gabriel Ofotokun, said some individuals orchestrated the excommunication for selfish reasons.

He said: “There was no time we took decision to excommunicate you and others. It was done for personal reason. There is nothing like excommunication. It was a demonic opinion of certain individuals. We are going to address a world press conference. I repeat, there was no time we excommunicated our first eleven. If you excommunicate your first eleven, who are you going to use to achieve result? If we need anything from the Delta State House of Assembly today, we need to see you. God has done it for Urhobo. Our son is the speaker of the house.”

Ofotokun, who spoke during a courtesy call on the Speaker in Sapele, said the expulsion was rescinded by the president general of the various communities.

His words: “Since the so-called wise men purportedly excommunicated you, can they ask you to support the Urhobo nation? The answer is no. Senator Ighoyota Amori is representing Urhobo in the Senate. If that senator is said to be excommunicated, how do you go to the senate to ask for something? Where do we go from here?”

Describing those behind the purported excommunication as brainless and demonic, Ofotokun expressed optimism that the union would not have issues like this again.

“You are a great man. God made you for a time like this. We are very proud of you. It is not easy to be speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. Our aim of coming is to congratulate you, beg you for the error committed and to discuss the way forward for the apex organization of Urhobo nation, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU),” he said.

•Photo shows Speaker Igbuya.

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