‘Eleme, Ogoni Division, Politically- Motivated’

First Vice Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Rivers/Bayelsa States branch, Hon. Charles Beke (left), exchanging pleasantries with a member of MAN, Engr. J. O. Ladapo, during a press briefing on the 30th General Meeting of MAN in Port Harcourt last Tuesday. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson

The ongoing controversy that the Elemes are not Ogonis has been described as the handiwork of selfish politicians.
Former Deputy President of the Movement of the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Coordinator of Aborigines of Eleme, Dr. Abraham Olungwe on a phone- in programme organised by Silverbird Communications in Port Harcourt at the weekend, said Elemes are part of Ogoni.
According to Olungwe, those behind the current ploy to separate Elemes from their neighbours are bent on sowing seeds of suspicion and preventing the people of the area from speaking with one voice.
The coordinator, Eleme Aborignes noted that problem started with the call for the creation of Ogoni state, insisting that, “even the UNEP Report gave Eleme serious attention. Eleme is a nuclear family just like Gokana and Tai.”
Olungwe further said, “you don’t divide the people because of selfish interests.
He added that the Elemes have a lot to benefit from the ongoing Ogoni governorship project.
Olungwe’s view was corroborated by President of KAGOTE, a socio-political group, Dr. Peter Mede, who maintained that Elemes are part and parcel of Ogoni.
Mede noted, “Eleme is part of Ogoni; they are one, and will remain one”.
However, President of Eleme General Assembly, Mr Jonah Chujor has disagreed with the position canvassed by Olungwe and Mede, saying that while Eleme people will like to associate with their neighbours, they will also like to preserve their identity.
”While we are looking at things that unite us, we should not allow our identities to be submerged,” Chujor said.