Monarch Urges Politicians To Respect Zoning

Ahead of the June 16 Local Government Elections in Rivers State, a first class traditional ruler has urged politicians in the state, especially those in Ogoni to respect existing zoning arrangement in order to sustain the peace and tranquillity in the area.
The Gbenemene Bangha Kingdom II, Mene Suanu Baridam, who stated this during a courtesy visit by the National Association of Ogoni Media Workers’ (NAOMEW) Steering Committee in his residence in Port Harcourt, last Monday, expressed concern that any move to jettison the zoning arrangement in the area may pitch the people at war against each other, adding that any act capable of breaching the existing peace already enjoyed by the people should be avoided.
Baridam, who is also the chairman, Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers (COTRA), further assured that Ogoniland was a peaceful place for investors and visitors alike, and called on investors to take advantage of the huge economic potentials in the area to invest in viable ventures.
He lamented the past crisis in the area which had destroyed so many lives, noting that one major problem in Ogoni was disunity due mainly to misinformation, and urged Ogoni people to channel their grievances through appropriate authorities.
The monarch promised the association of his unalloyed support during their conference and elections, and further extended invitation to the association to grace his forthcoming 10th coronation anniversary.
Earlier, the National Association of Ogoni Media Workers’ (NAOMEW) Steering Committee, led by the National Chairman, Comrade Christian Saro-Ganale had explained that NAOMEW was a group of media professionals from Khana and Gokana, adding that group has been in existence for over 15 years.
He stated that the steering committee was on a mission to sensitize and reawaken the consciousness of Ogoni media workers on the need to promote and protect the interest of the Ogoni people, adding that the time to rejuvenate the socio-economic relevance of Ogoniland was now.