NIGERIA: Stop Money-Grab, Make Politics Positive

MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo urges Ogoni new political party leaders.

The coordinating and monitoring secretary of the newly formed Ogoni political parties says registration and membership drive would begin January 18, 2014 throughout Ogoniland. He said representatives would also be appointed to register members in overseas.

Hon. Augustine Nkerelo, who is also secretary of St. Augustine Anglican Church, Botem, Tai Kingdom has said that the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA) was committed to the development of political parties. OCIA is the operator of the Ogoni Self-Government, which was declared on August 2, 2012.

Speaking after a consultative meeting with MOSOP leadership, Nkerelo who until now was Deputy President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), said the parties would create space for Ogonis to exercise their political rights.

In a message to the occasion, MOSOP President / Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, said: “Please, I appeal to you operators of our political parties to stop politics of money-grab as common in Nigeria.” He urged the political leaders to promote political education to explain the benefits and obligations attached to self-government, saying that enjoyment of inherent rights depends on workable and transparent institutions, including political parties that address the needs of the people.

“Don't give in to corruption. Own and nurture these parties, and inspire the people to begin to think positively about politics,” Diigbo added.

The Secretary General of MOSOP, Hon. Dum Ade John Budam lauded Nkerelo for accepting the task to promote grassroots organizing of the parties. He promised that MOSOP would avail him access to existing organizing tools.

Born on 15th of November 1967, Nkerelo commonly described as a “practical man” has been involved in youth activism since 1993. He is also an elected councilor and was involved in the conduct of Ogoni referenda for political autonomy in 2009/2010 and 2011.

After his college education, he went after skills acquisition programs to open door of opportunities that enabled him to work in various capacities with domestic and international companies. Among others, he worked as pipe structural fitting personnel with Alystul construction company (Nig),Ciminiontubi (Nig) Limited, Natural Liquefied Gas, Bonny Island, SNIG (Nig) Ltd, Portharcourt and Adamac groups of company (Nig) LTD.