Worried by the goings on in Ogoni communities in Rivers State since the federal government opened fresh negotiations toward resuming oil extraction activities in the area, a member of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee has lamented that Ogoni has lost its soul and identity.
Key Highlights
- An Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) member says Ogoni has lost its soul and identity amid talks on resuming oil extraction.
- He said the spirit with which Ken Saro-Wiwa fought for the Ogoni people has been discarded by current leaders.
- He accused some committee members of jostling for contracts ahead of the collective interest of the Ogoni people.
- He questioned the progress of promised confidence-building projects, including the East-West Road.
- He accused Ogoni political leaders of trying to hijack the leadership of MOSOP.
In an exclusive interview with The Trumpet, the ODC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, regretted that the spirit with which the late foremost Ogoni activist, Kenule Saro-Wiwa, fought for the liberation of the Ogoni ethnic nationality has been discarded by current leaders and people in Ogoni.
He said while Ken resisted pressures and rejected juicy offers from government and multinational oil companies to compromise the interest of the Ogoni people, current leaders in the area are ready to sell the people at a whim.
ODC Member Decries Jostling For Contracts
The ODC member bemoaned what he called the unhealthy jostling by some members of the committee to hijack contracts and push their selfish interests ahead of the collective interest of the Ogoni people.
“Some of them have even gone overseas claiming that they have gotten this and that company, or they have registered this and that company in readiness to execute contracts whenever the government is ready.
“Meanwhile, how far is the assignment given to them? What about the confidence building projects that the federal government promised to put in motion? Look at the East-West Road. Just that short distance from Trailer Park to Eleme Junction; it was supposed to have been inaugurated last year and others. They are not bothered. All they are after is their personal interests,” he lamented.
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Political Leaders Accused Of Undermining MOSOP
The ODC member also chided political leaders in Ogoni who he accused of working to destroy the foremost socio-cultural organisation of the Ogoni people, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), by always fighting to hijack its leadership and foist lackeys who would not be able to raise their voices against the injustices being meted against the Ogoni people.
He further described most Ogoni political leaders as cowards who would not dare to speak up for the Ogoni people outside the shores of Ogoniland, but would rather return home to exert influence and intimidate the common people anytime the government or other organisations graciously remember the people.
The visibly embittered ODC member, however, said that at the appropriate time, none of the people who fought or are fighting to obstruct or deny the common people of Ogoni what should rightly be due them would escape the wrath of God.
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