Deputy Speaker Wants FG’s Presence In Ogoni

The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and member representing Khana Constituency 11, Hon. Leyii Kwanee has called on the federal government to redress the lack of federal infrastructure in Ogoni land.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of the National Association of Ogoni Media Workers ( NAOMEW) led by its President,Mr. Joe Visangha, in his office in Port Harcourt, the Deputy Speaker said that the lack of federal presence in the area would be tabled through their representatives at the national level.

Kwanee urged the people of Ogoni to give maximum support to the state governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi   Amaechi who he said was disposed to giving favourable attention to  the aspiration of the Ogonis and appealed to them not to allow the opposition to the governor to infiltrate Ogoni land.

“Governor Amaechi has worked tirelessly for the Ogoni people. So, I want to enjoin all Ogonis and even you as Ogoni media workers to give your support to the governor because if we are talking of an Ogoni man becoming governor in 2015, if we don’t give sufficient support to the man who is there now, then there is no hope for us”.

He described the governor as a worthy son of Rivers State who has performed so well not only in Ogoni but the entire Rivers State and should not be abandoned at this critical time adding that with the Rivers people solidly behind the governor no plot hatched anywhere would  materialize.

Speaking on the alleged neglect of the Ogoni’s at the federal level, the Deputy  Speaker said that the lack of federal presence will be tabled through their representatives at the national level adding that the Ogonis deserved appropriate attention now that a South-South citizen is the President of Nigeria and promised to liaise with the representatives of the Ogonis at the national Assembly to push their case.

The Deputy Speaker who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan-African Parliament, promised to collaborate with the group to ensure that peace reigns in Ogoni land.

He said that the crisis in the area over the years is disturbing and that peaceful steps must be taken to ensure the resolution of every flash point in the area and urged the group as Journalists to assist in this regard.

“ Everyday you will hear of crisis in K-dere, crisis in B-dere, crisis in kaani. All over Ogoni, there is no place that there is peace. So, if we don’t put our house in order how can we position ourselves to demand for the UNEP report implementation”, he said.

Earlier in his address the president listed the issues to include among others the UNEP Report, neglect at the federal level, abandonement of the Bodo-Bonny road, intra and inter communal crisis, Bodo West oil field on the map of Ogu/Bolo and Bonny Local Government Area, ceding away some part of Ogoni land, continued ecological and environmental degradation and its attendant health hazards.

The highpoint of the visit was the decoration of the Deputy Speaker with a badge as the grand patron of the Association.