Game Up For Non-Cooperative Politicians, Say Ogoni People
THE Ogoni people, kinsmen of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, in the Rivers State axis of Southern Nigeria, have said that the
game is up for those they described as ''non-cooperative and deceptive politicians'' at all levels in the country.
They also declared that they are poised to enforce their self government.
According to them, the delay in the take off of their self government, which was declared last August 2, is beginning to
stir them up In a surprise protest.
Ogoni elected representatives and councilors drawn from 33 districts and 272 village councils under their self
government on Thursday, protested in Bori, the ancient and modern capital of Ogoni.
The protest, which ended with a rally at the Khana Local Government Council headquarters, sought explanation from the
local government boss for his lack of transparency essential for a peaceful transition.
AkanimoReports gathered that the protest came on the heels of a report by the self government Transition Committee,
which lavished praise on some politicians, but suggested that others repeatedly scheduled several meetings at which they
didn’t show up, thus delaying the report of the committee.
There is growing restiveness in Ogoni after nearly 10 weeks of behind the scene meetings and backstabbing that has
created an uncertain political landscape.
Ogoni mass organisation, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) had set up the Ogoni Central Indigenous
Authority (OCIA) to enforce the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that was adopted in New
York on September 13, 2007.
Addressing the protesters on behalf of the Khana Local Government Chairman, Mr. Greg Barile Nwiadam, the Chief Whip of
the Khana legislative house, Mr. Neeka Idemyor representing Khalga Ward 10 said that the chairman was “very much ready to dialogue
with OCIA”, but the protesters said that he can’t be trusted to keep his words.
The protest was to put the Ogoni politicians on notice that the Ogoni people will no longer recognize them and that they
want their authentic representatives to begin the business of the Ogoni people.
Speaking on behalf of the representatives, Dum Ade John Budam, who is also the Secretary General of MOSOP said that the
protest was to honour the Ogoni tradition of nonviolence.
Budam said the MOSOP President, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo ''has just received'' the report of the transition committee and was
studying it, hinting that the National Executive Council of the movement will meet to review the report and thereafter
summon a General Assembly of the Ogoni people to signal a final phase of action planned to enforce the declaration.
Budam appealed to the Ogoni people to remain peaceful and law abiding, reassuring that the Ogoni people will not
retreat.
On August 2, 2012, Diigbo declared a self government on behalf of the Ogoni people with the aim to enforcing the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted in 2007 in New York entitles all indigenous
peoples of the world, who so desire to exercise their right to political autonomy or self determination.
ENDS