Stop Dragging the Urhobo Name Into Negative Narratives, Ejiro Hope Advises.

By Henry Ubus

Chief Ejiro Hope, Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor and U3 Youth Leader has called on youths and social media users to desist from dragging individuals by broadly tagging them as “Urhobo leaders” when addressing issues affecting youth development.

In a statement shared across his social media platforms, Chief Hope emphasized that accountability should be personal rather than ethnic. According to him, if anyone is believed to be hindering, diverting or frustrating initiatives meant for the youths such individuals should be mentioned directly by name instead of attaching the actions to an entire ethnic group.

He warned that linking negative narratives to the Urhobo name only damages the collective image of the people stressing that such actions are counterproductive. Chief Hope further noted that a better understanding of how online algorithms work would encourage more responsible use of language on social media as repeated association of negativity with an ethnic identity can have far-reaching consequences.

“Attaching ‘Urhobo’ to bad or negative narratives harms the image of the entire people,” he stated, adding that constructive criticism should focus on facts and individuals, not tribes.

Chief Hope also used the opportunity to project the positive identity of the Urhobo people describing them as hospitable, peaceful, and among the best sets of people in the world. He noted that anyone who has travelled widely would attest to the good nature, openness, and accommodating spirit of the Urhobo nation.

He concluded by urging youths to promote unity, fairness, and responsible advocacy, while ensuring that criticism and calls for accountability are done in a manner that builds rather than destroys communal identity.