Ogoni Self-Government Automatic Recognition for Native Rulers
272 paramount rulers and village heads have gained automatic recognition under the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority
(OCIA).
This is in furtherance of the enforcement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
in Ogoniland.
MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo said the automatic recognition of traditional rulers was to end decades
of discrimination, suppression, deprivation and humiliation of over 95 percent of Ogoni native rulers in Nigeria.
Diigbo said: “In the past, the Rivers State Government selectively picked native rulers for recognition and the
government created a climate of endless chieftaincy battle, bloodshed and anarchy in Ogoniland.”
“Chiefs are products of our villages. Chiefs are individuals chosen to lead by their own people. They should never be
imposed. From now on, the district councils will issue certificate of recognition to paramount rulers whose names are
forwarded from their villages through their own village councils,” Diigbo explained; saying “this was our ancestral
method, and has now been reactivated.”
At the joint inauguration session of district elected representatives on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the District
Council Hall of Teyork, it was decided that each village chief will preside over the village native court.
Diigbo said the native court system will collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force under the inspector general of
police, and will have nothing to do with any state police force being proposed by corrupt politicians.
“We, the Ogoni people do not want to share in common with security forces that have been turned into political police
force for persecution, corruption, oppression and victimization,” Diigbo maintained.
The joint session approved that a police officer answerable to the inspector general will be welcomed to work with the
village native court with the support and cooperation of the villagers.
With this development, no Ogoni person can be arrested for any offence without the knowledge of the village native court
and no criminal will be allowed to live in peace in any Ogoni village without immediate trial by the native court in
accordance with Ogoni customs and traditions.
The traditional rulers that were already recognized will serve at the district courts, while the gbenemenes, menes other called kings and royal majesties will serve at the appellate native courts.
“Each village decides stipends to pay its native ruler and is also required to strengthen its internal security
according to Ogoni customs and traditions,” he revealed.
Every last Saturday of each month between the hours of 7am and 9am was set aside for a nationwide tree planting and
sanitation exercise.
ENDS