‘RSG Not Relocating Army Barrack To Ogoniland’

The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwane, has denied the report that the state government plans to relocate army barrack to Sogho community in Khana Local Government Area of Ogoniland.

The Deputy Speaker, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting of the community held at his instance at the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, said the project billed for the community was an agricultural project initiated by the Rivers State Government and  not an army barrack.

Hon Kwane who represents Nyokhana constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly, apologised on behalf of the state government over the lack of proper consultation with the community, resulting in crisis  in the area.

Hon Kwane assured the people of Sogho community of government’s responsibility to securing lives and property in the area, and cautioned against the  activities of miscreants operating under various cult appellations.

According to him, proper consultation would be made with the community over the  acquisition of land for the project, and called on the people to embrace the project as it would be beneficial to them in terms of economic activities.

Earlier, the Area Police Commander in the area, Mr Tony Ogboji had told the people of Sogho to embrace peace but spoke of the need to expose the activities of cultists and their sponsors. He noted that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.

In his submission, the paramount ruler of Akporo Sogho, HRH A.T Ababubu, said the people of Sogho were predominantly farmers and needed to be properly consulted on any project that would strip them of their primary means of livelihood.

He was emphatic that the people would resist any form of imposition without due process.

The stakeholders appealed to the  state government to make the project consultative-based to address the sceptism of the people which  he said had resulted in crisis.

The  climax of the meeting was the setting up of a contact committee made of traditional rulers, clergymen and youth representatives to chart a fresh course for dialogue between the state government and the Sogho community.

Taneh Beemene

HRH King Samu Baridam,Gbenemene Bangha (right) with Chairman, Khana Local Government Council, Hon Gregory Nwindam (middle), and Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Leyii Kwane, during a stakeholders meeting for peace in Sogho community, on Monday. Photo Chris Monyanaga