Rivers
MOSOP Seeks End To Hostility In Boue Yeghe
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on the warring communities of Boue and Yeghe in Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas (LGAs), respectively, to sheath their swords while it sets-up a committee to wade into the crisis.
This was part of a resolution at the end of MOSOP’s National Congress at Bori, headquarters of Khana LGA.
The organization also called on Fulani herders to stop the killing of Ogonis, warning that it may be compelled to mobilize its people against further killing of Ogoni people by the herders.
While warning against further incursion into the Baogoin area of Ogoni, the congress also called on the Federal Government to stop further oil exploration in the area until a proper discussion has been entered into with Ogoni people.
It also decried the continuous marginalization of Ogoni people by a section of the Nigerian political class and called on all Ogonis to support political parties that give prominence to Ogoni sons and daughters by working towards the emergence of a Governor of Rivers State from the Ogoni extraction.
The congress further called on the Federal Government to address the issue of political exclusion of the Ogonis, while also demanding that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation and Restoration Project (HYPREP) be properly resourced to deliberately incude the interest of the Ogoni people.
In his address at the occasion, President Of The Movement for The Survival of Ogoni people (MOSOP), Professor Andai Wai Ogosu, decried the pull-your-brother-down syndrome in Ogoniland.
Ogosu said Mosop believes in live-and-let-me-live mentality and expressed regret over the activities of some political and traditional leaders in Ogoniland who are not working for the interest of the ethnic nationality.
According to the MOSOP President, “Ogoni has been at the fore of the demand for social justice in the Nigerian state but seems to have recently shirked the core of such struggles through the prevalence of internal frictions, atomistic attitude and the growth of intolerant spirit among them.
“Ogoni has the glaring advantages and possibilities of creating tremendous developmental impact and transforming into ofegalitarian society. However, the plethora of desires for personal aggrandizement and self centeredness have been skewed for internal wrangling and destruction rather than divestment into positive harvests”, he said.
Also speaking, former President of the movement, Legborsi Pyagbara, said time has come for the Ogonis to be allowed to lead Rivers State for the purpose of fairness and equity.
Pyagbara said current events in Rivers State amount to a manifest marginalization and injustice against the Ogonis, adding that his people will support any political party that field Ogonis as its Governorship candidate.
He also called on the federal government to allow the Ogonis take full ownership of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation and Restoration project.
The former MOSOP President called on his people to set aside individual and personal differences and work together to see that Ogoni move foreward.
By: John Bibor, Abam Ibibia, Ezekiel Wisdom