Okpe Union President Rejects Ethnic Misclassification, Responds to Zik Gbemre’s Claims
Prof. O. Igho Natufe, President General of the Okpe Union Worldwide, has issued a strongly-worded statement in response to recent claims by Zik Gbemre, who accused him of leading a divisive campaign to separate the Okpe people from the Urhobo ethnic group.
The rebuttal, dated June 22, 2025, was titled “On Zik Gbemre’s Campaign of Calumny…” and dismissed personal attacks from Gbemre while addressing the core issue: the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality.
Prof. Natufe argued that the misclassification of Okpe as a “clan of Urhobo” was a result of British colonial administrative convenience, not linguistic or historical accuracy. Citing scholars and historical records, he asserted that Okpe culture, language, and origin are distinct from Urhobo and more closely aligned with the Edo-speaking peoples of Benin.
He referenced the 1930 founding of the Okpe Union as a turning point in the restoration of Okpe identity, as well as the coronation of the second Orodje of Okpe, Esezi II, in 1945. He also highlighted past efforts to correct this misclassification, including a 1953–54 request for an independent Okpe Division.
Natufe criticized the exclusion of Okpe from the DESOPADEC Law, despite the recognition of smaller groups like the Ndokwa and Ika. He stated that Okpe’s continued omission denies it access to political representation and development funds.
Responding to Gbemre’s assertion that “Okpe is Urhobo,” Natufe challenged him to provide historical evidence and condemned the comparison as colonial in nature. He also addressed Gbemre’s personal attacks, including claims about his name and ethnic background, calling them “shameful misinformation.”
Prof. Natufe concluded by reaffirming Okpe’s commitment to peaceful coexistence while insisting on the right to self-identification and recognition within Delta State.
See below copy of the letter.
