By: Felix Ikpotor
Following the leadership crisis rocking the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and the move by some elders of Ogoni to intervene, a youth leader in the area, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabaa has taken a swipe at Dr. Young Nkpah for speaking against the elders.
Nkpah who is the immediate past President of National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) was quoted as speaking against the move by some Ogoni elders and past leaders of MOSOP such as Ledum Mitee, Dr. Owens Wiwa and others who called for peace from parties involved in the tussle. He was alleged to have supported the factional exco of MOSOP led by Prince Biira.
Yamaabana who stated this in a statement described Nkpah’s statement as disrespectful to the Ogoni people.
He maintained that MOSOP remains the soul of the Ogoni struggle for social and environmental justice, stressing that any attempt to hijack it for selfish interest at a time when the elders are calling for truce would amount to dancing on the graves of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other slain Ogoni heroes.
The youth leader urged the Ogoni leaders not to be deterred as Ogoni youths are actively behind him, stressing that there has not been any election in Ogoni and urged Prince Biira, Lazarus Tamana and Feghalo Nsuke to queue behind the elders.
He further warned that anybody that is not ready to accept the peace moves by the elders shall be declared persona non grata by the youths.
