MOSOP Intensifies Quest For Ogoni Governorship
Determined to ensure that an Ogoni occupies the Rivers State Government House come 2015, the people of the ethnic nationality have dedicated their Governorship bid tagged “Ogoni project 2015” to God.
The service organized by the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) with the theme “That we may be one” attracted a mammoth crowd of Ogonis across party lines.
The event staged at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Bori the ancestral home of Ogoni people and Headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, witnessed prominent Ogoni leaders maintain one voice.
President, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara, restated the position of Ogonis on governorship come 2015, urging the people to form a coalition geared towards actualizing a successor to Governor Amaechi insisting that “the time for an Ogoni governor has come”.
He said, "Let's culminate our struggle for justice, liberation and against environmental degradation with the election of a governor in 2015 from Ogoniland"; we therefore appeal to the leadership of all political parties to look at Ogoni in the choice of their standard bearers”.
"Our position is clear: any party that is interested in our votes should field an Ogoni as its governorship flag bearer in the 2015 gubernatorial election. We assure an Ogoni governorship candidate and the party he represents of our collective votes". Pyagbara declared.
On his part, President, KAGOTE, Dr. Peter Medee said, "We cannot lose it in this generation; we must grab it now or we have to wait for another 24 years. Those saying no more zoning are enemies of Ogoni. They are those conspiring against the people of Ogoni. Whether it is APC or PDP, we must unite to get the governorship position."
In his solidarity message, the member representing Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Barry Mpigi, who also spoke on behalf of Senator Magnus Abe of the APC said Ogoni people are prepared to produce the next governor of the state, not minding the political platform, through which it is achieved.
Mpigi said, "Must we continue to be slaves? This is the time. Whether it is Senator Magnus Abe or Senator Lee Maeba, Ogoni people are prepared to move forward. Whether it is APC or PDP, Ogonis must move forward."
Senator Lee Maeba in his speech said, “Why must we accept the policy of no rotation now, having produced all our governors since 1999 through the principle of rotation and zoning. Tell me, what sort of justice is that?"
The PDP governorship aspirant stressed that “it is our time; if you look for people who can govern Rivers State, they are in Ogoniland. In 1999, Rivers West senatorial district produced a governor and in 2007, Rivers East district, which means, there is zoning".
Earlier in his admonition, the Bishop, Diocese of Bori, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ndinwii, urged the people of Ogoni to ensure they play their individual parts so as to achieve their desire for a governor of Ogoni extraction come 2015.
Signed:
DR. PETER MEDEE
President, KAGOTE
October 12, 2014