By: Felix Ikpotor
As politicking towards the 2023 general elections takes centre stage especially in Rivers State, a group kniown as the Ogoni Peoples Assembly (OPA) has called on the two major political parties in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cede its governorship tickets to Ogoni candidate.
The group came out with this at press conference in Bori, traditional headquarters of the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
Leader of the group, Mr. Tom Probel Williams who spoke onehalf of other members lamented that the ethnic group was yet to “produce a Governor, Deputy Governor, Chief Judge or Speaker of the State Assembly, 50 years after the creation of Rivers State, despite our humongous contributions”.
“As the 2023 General Election approaches, the Ogoni people demand unequivocally the position of the Governor of Rivers State from the 2 major political parties. If anyone, or political party thinks otherwise, they should tell OPA in black and white what they have for the Ogoni people,” he said.
OPA commended the “four Ogoni sons who took the expression of interest and nomination forms on the platform of the PDP, Senator Lee Maeba – Khana LGA; Dr. Gabriel Pidomson – Gokana LGA; Senator Olaka Nwogu – Eleme LGA; Hon. Isaac Kamalu – Eleme LGA and Senator Magnus Abe who declared on Sunday to run on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). We call on other sons and daughters from Ogoni in the APC to also take bold steps as soon as practicable, and also other sons and daughters from Ogoni on the platforms of the other political parties to take forms and bring home the glory”.
The group rejected the zoning of the governorship ticket of the APC to the riverine axis of the state.
On the Ogoni clean-up, “OPA appreciates the presidency for the quick intervention in resolving the apparent controversy surrounding Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) with the timely re-appointment of a new substantive minister, and once again we congratulate the new substantive Minister for Environment Barr. Mohammed H. Abdulahi.
May we reiterate that Ogonis will not settle for less as OPA insists on right of first offer/60% of all jobs and contracts in HYPREP, whilst enjoining our son and thorough bred professional, Dr. Ferdinand Giadom (Project Coordinator of HYPREP) in the coming days to roll out plans for the engagement of HYPREP and the Ogoni People in Bori and to create a robust response system that would guarantee the right of first offer/60% of all jobs and contracts in the value chain of the Ogoni Clean-up Project – from health survey, institutional structures, employment and training, to water provision and other associated livelihood opportunities, etc. The Ogoni people expect the new Minister of Environment to chair this forum and familiarize with the Ogoni people. OPA is available for collaboration”.
