Francis Sadhere
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has joined the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality in mourning the death of General Patrick Aziza, President of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) and Leader of the Urhobo Nation.
The group, in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Barrister Eric Omare and made available to National Reformer, described the late General Aziza as a stabilizing factor in the Niger-Delta.
According to the group: “It would be recalled that when there was so much protest from some sons and daughters of the Urhobo nation over perceived marginalization against the Goodluck Jonathan administration, General Aziza as the leader of the Urhobo people unlike some other leaders, did not join the fray in openly protesting, but instead he quietly led the Urhobo nation to constructively engage President Jonathan.”
The statement added that the constructive engagements of the late UPU President General resulted in the appointment of an Urhobo son as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Niger-Delta Affairs.
“This singular act helped in building cohesion in the Niger-Delta between the Ijaw and Urhobo Ethnic Nationalities,” said IYC.
IYC therefore, called on other leaders in the region to imbibe and follow the leadership style of the departed Urhobo leader in building bridges of unity in the Niger-Delta.
