NGF: Ogonis In Diaspora Back Amaechi …As Deputy Speaker Canvasses Ogoni Governorship Ticket

An international non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Ogonis in the Diaspora Organisation (ODO), based in Chicago, in the United States, has thrown its support behind the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, over his re-election as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

Executive Director of the organisation, Chief Ambrose Kii gave the declaration while speaking with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, shortly on arrival from USA last weekend.

He said the apparent denial of the governor over his returned mandate and eventual suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was an ominous sigh for our democracy and called on Nigerians to rise to the occasion to avert a dangerous tendency for our democracy ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Chief Kii said the actions of some of the governors who reneged their mandate, after the election was embarrassing to the nation, as there was visual evidence that attests to Governor Amaechi’s victory.

According to Chief Kii, “the reality of the NGF elections, is the deep conviction of Nigerians on primacy of free choice and the popularity of electoral participation, rather than endorsement which breeds corruption and abuse of power, as most people forced into governance are not prepared”.

The executive director, advised the governor not to be distracted by the turn of events that has trailed the election, as justice would surely prevail.

Chief Kii also decried the lack of awareness among Nigerians on issues of political participation and disclosed that the body would embark on citizens awareness campaign in the state in August to enlighten the people on the need to participate actively in politics.

He also disclosed that plans were underway to establish a citizens awareness centre in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland.

On the prospect of having a governor of Ogoni extratction in Rivers State in 2015, he called for unity among Ogonis in Diaspora and at home, to take full advantage of their numerical strength and work with other ethnic groups in Rivers State to actualise the objective.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and member representing Khana Constituency 11, Hon. Leyii Kwanee has assured the Ogonis of clinching the 2015 governorship of the state, if only they could sustain their support for Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at this critical period of the political situation in the state.

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 there was nothing wrong for the Ogonis to aspire to rule the state, as such had eluded them in the past.

Kwanee said that Governor Amaechi 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 into 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 had 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 no matter how sacred, would  materialise.

Responding further to the address of the group of neglect at the federal level, the Deputy     Speaker said that the lack of federal presence would 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 ensure a concerted effort 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 reigned in Ogoni land.

He said that the crisis in the area over the years was 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 queried.

Ealier in his address, the President said that they were in the Deputy Speaker’s office to congratulate him on his election as the Deputy Speaker as well as intimate him of some of the issues that have continued to concern them as an association as they affect Ogoni.

The president listed the issues to include among others the UNEP Report, neglect at the federal level, abandonment of the Bodo-Bonny road, intra and inter communal crisis, Bodo West oil field on the map of Ogu/Bolo and Bonny Local Government Areas, ceding away some parts 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.

Taneh Beemene and Epelle Enoch

Executive Director, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Noble Pepple (right) in handshake with the Sole Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam at the walk 4 life, an RSSDA Initiative in Port Hrcourt, recently