Mitee Explains Exit As MOSOP Leader

Immediate past President, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Ledum Mitee said he was bowing out as leader of the organisation in order not to be seen as a sit tight leader.

Mitee explained that it was time to move on, after being at the forefront of the struggle for a better deal of the Ogoni people, under the aegis of the Pan Ogoni organisation for nearly two decades.

Speaking during the 20th Ogoni Day Celebration in Bori in Khana local government area on Wednesday, Mitee said that he would not be offering himself for election, despite persuasion from some quarters to do so.

“In my last Ogoni Day statement on the 4th of January 2011, I had said that would be my last speech as MOSOP President, as I would not be offering myself up for re-election during the MOSOP elections due later in the year.

“I want to restate for emphasis as I did then that, my decision is not borne out of any diminished zeal or love for the struggle, but after nearly two decades in the front row of the struggle, the time has come when one has to move on,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said ahead of the elections of a new MOSOP executive later this year, a caretaker committee has been set up to run the affairs of the body until the outsanding election are concluded, just as he said the people stand to achieve a lot when they are united.

He added, “The best tribute we can give to the memory of those gone, those of us alive today and the many yet unborn, is to stay united and focused on our collective interest as a people.

“The fact that I have decided not to seek re-election for MOSOP President therefore should not be misconstrued as an indication that I am leaving the organization.

“Let me repeat here that for better or for worse, I remain committed and all of us must commit ourselves to the MOSOP struggle which carries our collective conscience until we realize our promise and restore our dignity.

“One thing that gladdens my heart is that we took over the helm of affairs of this organization at a most difficult time in the history of our people, when we were severely and bitterly fractionlized but we were able to bring about an impressive level of unity across the land.

“The Electoral Committee set up to conduct the elections reported at the last meeting of the Steering Committee of MOSOP that it had completed elections at all levels except the national elections in respect of which they encountered some challenges. “Confronted with this situation, the Steering Committee therefore decided to set up a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the organization until the conclusion of the outstanding elections,” he explained, while urging the people to support the committee and the in-coming executive.