An unhealthy cold war is brewing between the two factions of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) over who oversees the Urhobo state burial being arranged for the late governor of Delta State, Chief Felix Ibru. 

Our correspondent gathered on Wednesday, that the Chief Joe Omene-led faction and the Chief Gabriel Ofotokun-led Interim Committee Executive of the Urhobo umbrella union, are headed for a showdown over who is the authentic leader to lead the burial rites of the late former President-General of ethnic group. 

The late octogenarian is expected to be given an Urhobo state burial with a lying in state at the Urhobo Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge, Agbarho.

The duo of Chief Omene and Chief Ofotokun have begun to give conflicting reports and plans ahead of the state burial of the late governor. 

On his part, Chief Omene, while speaking on plans by the UPU to give the late President General a befitting funeral, said: “As a former UPU President General, he (Ibru) would be given an Urhobo state burial with a lying in state ceremony at the Urhobo Cultural Centre, Uvwiamuge.

Omene claimed that, “as the custodian of the key to that place, we are liaising with the family and to prove that to you, on page 2 of the condolence register opened in his honour which is reserved for the UPU President-General, I was the person that signed that page.”

He, therefore, urged all Urhobos to disregard the Chief Ofotokun group's claim to the state burial plans and leadership of the union. 

But in a swift reaction, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the UPU Interim Executive Committee, Chief Joseph Ntekume, said the claim by Chief Omene that he signed the condolence register on behalf of UPU was spurious. 

According to him: "It is not true that Omene signed the condolence register on behalf of UPU, it was Ofotokun that signed, and this was as a result of the ban placed on Omene by the Ibru family to steer clear of their house.

As a former UPU President General, the Interim Committee would give him (Ibru) an Urhobo state funeral with a lying in state ceremony at the Uvwiamuge Cultural Centre.” 

It will be recalled that traditional rulers from Urhobo land had met sometimes ago where a communique was issued, dissolving the Chief Omene-led UPU faction and set up an interim executive committee led by Chief Gabriel Ofotokun to oversee the affairs of the union pending the next election period. 

But this move has been described by the Chief Omene-led faction as unconstitutional, null and void when placed side by side the union's constitution.