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Saro-Wiwa: Ogoni Groups Threaten FG Over Seized Bus …Plan Protest ’Morrow
Two Ogoni groups have threatened a showdown with the Federal Government if it fails to release the Kenule Saro-Wiwa memorial bus allegedly impounded by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, the Social Action and the Ogoni Solidarity Forum said, they had exhausted “all peaceful avenues” to secure the release of the bus.
The bus, a memorabilia donated by a UK group to the Ogoni people to mark the 20th anniversary of Saro-Wiwa’s death, was allegedly seized by the Nigeria Customs on September 8th.
It would be recalled that Saro-Wiwa was executed by a military tribunal set up by the Sani Abacha-led junta on November 10, 1995.
The current Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs, Hameed Ali, was a member of the tribunal which ordered the hanging of Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni environmental activists.
“For us, it’s just more tha n a make-shift steel bus, and we demand to have that bus back. We have exhausted every peaceful avenue we have got, and that’s why we are calling this meeting and telling you, that come the 9th of November, 2015, if the government does not release the property of the Ogoni people to the Ogoni people, the Ogoni people will take action,” the Senior Programme Manager, Social Action, Ken Henshaw, said.
“And we dare to say that economic activity around the area of the Ogoni nation, which includes the NNPC, and so on and so forth, will be stopped. The Ogoni people are fully mobilized. We have been the ones holding them back, that you don’t need to take this kind of action at this time. There is visible anger. We are being seen as traitors over this and we have made up our mind.
“We will take whatever action on the 9th of November. And this is our last attempt at appeal to the government – release what belongs to the Ogoni people to the Ogoni people. We are tired of this posture of belligerence with the Ogoni people, which the government of Nigeria ha s continued environmentally and physically since the 90s. And for us this is the last straw and it has broken the camel’s back.”
The groups’ threat came a day after the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) also threatened a protest if the Nigeria Customs fails to release the bus.
However, when our correspondent contacted the Nigeria Customs, the agency denied knowledge of the bus.
“A s I speak with you, I still don’t know in which Customs command this thing was done,” Spokesperson, Nigeria Customs, Wale Adeniyi, said over the phone.
“They just said Lagos port and I have called the two major ports in Lagos and they don’t seem to know about it. The Area Comptroller should know if such a thing exists.”
There are three major ports in Lagos – APMT at the Apapa port and TICT and Grimaldi at the Tin Can Island port.
When Adeniyi was told that the bus was being held at Grimaldi, he promised to call back in ten minutes, but he never called back.
Subsequent phone calls and a text message to his line were never responded to.
There is still no official reason why the bus, which had an inscription by Ken Saro-Wiwa during his trial – “I accuse the oil companies of genocide in Ogoniland” – on its side , is still being held at the Lagos port two months after its arrival from the UK.
Henshaw said his group and the Ogoni Solidarity Forum had written a petition weeks ago to Ali, the Customs boss, demanding the release of the bus.
“We have received no official response from Customs to our petition,” said Henshaw.
“So, as far as we know, our bus has been seized by the Nigerian government for many reasons one of which is an intentional aggression against the Ogoni people, second of which is an attempt to eliminate every memory of the struggle of Ken Saro-Wiwa from the history of this country.
After the bus arrived in Lagos, Henshaw, accompanied by another Niger Delta activist and National Coordinator, Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Nigeria, Celestine Akbobari, and Aremu Abiodun, a clearing agent, went to the Grimaldi terminal to clear the bus.
“We were taken to the office of the Valuation Officer, the Customs officer in charge of valuation, Aina Moyo,” Akpobari, said.
“And he told us right there in his office that ‘the shadow of Ken Saro-Wiwa can kill somebody. I don’t want to get myself involved in the release of this one, especially now that Buhari is on seat. If it were before I can just release this bus now. You will have to go to Abuja. You, you know that the shadow of Ken Saro-Wiwa can even sack somebody from work. My work is important to me.’
“We went to Abuja and stayed in Abuja for over two weeks, meeting with people. The same thing happened. Important people, great people that we respect that we thought would have helped us , they were afraid. Even Ogoni people that are senior Customs officers ran away.
“And this is just an art work. Non-motorized. So, the question here is why are they afraid of an artwork? And if they can waive billions of dollars for people like Dangote, is it an artwork donated for struggle that people are beginning to play drama with?
“We feel that the world should begin to know because we had been handling this matter with kid gloves. “
Akpobari said that the bus is important for the 20th anniversary commemoration of Saro-Wiwa’s death, which holds on November 10th.
“The bus is a living memorial that was donated in honour of Ken by some activists in the UK,” he said.
“That bus has been in the UK moving from one city to another and during our visit to the UK two years ago, we pleaded with the owners that this thing was not meant to be in London forever. That it was planned that at some point it will move to its permanent abode in Nigeria which is Ogoni. And they agreed that ok the 20th anniversary will be the best time to move it.”
Henshaw said that a place – an erected pavement – had already been created for the bus at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Centre in Bori, an Ogoni community in Rivers State.
“We are trying to use this bus as a bridge, as a point of solidarity, as a point of commitment that whatever ills was committed, that we can fix this,” Henshaw added.
“The bus is more than just an artifact. It’s a symbol of brotherhood, an edifice that represents the global solidarity with the people of Ogoniland.
“We intend to make the inside of that bus a resource centre that will inspire different people who intend to carry out struggles for human and environmental justice just the way Ken Saro-Wiwa did,” he added.
News
Elder Statesman, Others Emerge PH Boat Club’s New Officials
The Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 has elected new officers to pilot its affairs.
An elder statesman and staunch supporter of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart emerged the club’s Secretary.
Sir Hart’s emergence followed an election conducted by the electoral committee over the weekend which threw up new officials to pilot its affairs at its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The election which was adjudged one of the most credible, fairest and freest elections in the annals of the Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947, saw the emergence of Dan Harrison as Chairman.
Other members elected to run the activities of the body are Chief Coker Jimmy, Dr Oma Awoh, Chief Bib- Manuel Afonya, Dawari Dingo, Dango Kala- Otaji, Bara Alagoma and Dago George.
Recall that Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 was founded by the former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.
Many years after its inception, the club is still waxing strong with notable personalities as members.
Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief AbiyeSekibo is also a prominent member of the club.
The elected officials including Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart were subsequently sworn in, signalling a new chapter for the revered group of bigwigs in the oil- rich region.
With the likes of an elder statesman, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart on board, the narrative has changed for Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 as expectations are high.
The newly elected boat Secretary, Sir Fubara Hart promised to work assiduously with the chairman and other members to chart a new course for the esteemed club.
He said efforts are in top gear to enroll new members who will contribute their quota to the advancement of the club.
Sir Hart described his emergence as an act of God, promising to support the new leadership to achieve the desired objective.
He hinted that the core values of the club would be upheld with vigour, saying working in synergy with the principles laid down by its founders remains their watchword.
He said the rules and regulations of the club shall be sustained in the interest of the club and every legitimate member.
News
New Oneh Eta Akpajo Emerges
The Akpajo Clan in Eleme Local Government Area was recently agog with activities following the coronation of HRH Emere Sunday Obo as the Oneh Eta Akpajo XII/paramount ruler of Akpajo clan in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Emere Obo was crowned by the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka on behalf of the land priests at the community square.
Before his coronation, the new King was an acting traditional ruler of the community since the death of his predecessor, Emere Friedrich on the 11th of January, 2023.
He was also a member of the late King’s Council of Chiefs and member of Nchia and Eleme Council of Chiefs respectively.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after his coronation,the new Akpajo monarch said his reign will usher in peace and prosperity to the Kingdom.
He said he intends to work together with the government and companies operating in the Kingdom to attract development to Akpajo clan.
According to the monarch, he will always seek the advice of his elders and other clansmen before taking any decisions.
“I have promised them that I cannot use my authority to do anything without hearing from them first,” he said.
Emere Obo also stressed the need for the youths in the area to toe the path of peace, adding that as a traditional ruler, his responsibility is to ensure that Akpajo clan remains peaceful.
He also assured the government of support and praised both past and current administrations in the State for siting projects in the community.
Also speaking , the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka said Emere Obo’s installation was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo Kingdom.
He also told newsmen that the king makers have not received any protest from any quarters concerning the installation since the process started months ago.
Chief Goka equally said his crowning of the monarch was based on instructions from the clan’s land priests and expressed optimism that Emere Obo is capable of representing the clan Traditionally and other wise.
Chief Goka described Emere Obo as trustworthy and law-abiding, adding that having worked with the late traditional ruler, Emere Obo has a full knowledge of the customs and traditions of not only Akpajo clan but the entire Eleme Kingdom.
He assured the new monarch of the support of the people of Akpajo and the entire traditional institution in the area.
Also speaking, one of the community’s land priests, Levy Kattey Jumaa said the installation of the new Akpajo monarch was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo and Eleme kingdom.
According to him, the new King has all the qualities expected from a chief in Eleme land, stressing that Emere Obo was only ascending the throne of his fathers having come from the royal family of Akpajo Kingdom.
He urged the public to disregard any insinuations concerning the installation, ”if at all there is any,” adding that it is only the land priests families that talk about kingship installations in Akpajo and Eleme and no other persons outside the land priests families can do that.
By: John Bibor
News
Awo Idemili Community May Become Ghost Town If
If urgent steps are not taken by concerned authorities, the Awo Idemili community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State may become a ghost town, due to incessant killings, arson and kidnapping of residents by some alleged criminal elements suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB).
The Tide’s sourc learnt that a certain family, the Emenikes, said the only possible solution to save the lives of the family members and that of others was to seek protection in a foreign land.
According to sources, one of the family members, Mr Peter Emenike was adbucted and murdered in a gruesome manner by people believed to be members of the IPOB recently.
It was further learnt that Peter Emenike, now deceased, was the Personal Assistant to the Imo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Traditional Matters and was never a member of any secret organisation as to warrant the fate that befell him.
His only offence as further gathered, was an alleged intelligence leaked to the Imo Government which the IPOB framed up in order to get him and his family members nailed.
It also learnt on a good authority that Peter Emenike’s lifeless body alongside that of his wife was found at their residence in Awo – Idemili, Imo State on 14th November, 2024 .
It was also reported that few days later, some family members of the Emenike family were declared missing and as one of them was found dead by a bush path, while others were still held hostage as at when this report was filed.
The Tide’s source claimed that a letter purportedly written by the IPOB members was delivered and dropped inside the car of the deceased bearing the insignia of the IPOB with the inscription: ‘None of your family members can hide for long’.
Unconfirmed report has it that the family, out of fear could not immediately report the matter to the Imo State Police Command as the group is believed to possess some spiritual powers to identify their perceived enemies from afar.
The family members of the deceased including oneMr Daniel Emenike, Boniface Emenike , Paul Emenike and others are now under serious threat by the separatist group (IPOB), thus the urgent need for protection especially in a foreign land.
A security analyst who pleaded anolmity, warned that the assassination of Peter Emenike and the serial killings and abduction of his family members stood as a signal to a new phase of IPOB’s operations .
“ This is not an attack on one family , but on the nation and our collective safety . The government must act swiftly not just to rescue the family but to reaffirm their stance on zero tolerance to terrorism “ he said .
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