By: Felix Ikpotor
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has elected a new set of executives to pilot the affairs of the body for the next three years.
The new MOSOP leadership has Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu as President. He emerged at the end of the election conducted by the body on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
The election brings to an end several years of leadership tussle and legal battles which had rocked the body.
Wai-Ogosu at the election, pulled a total of 52 votes to defeat his only challenger, Dr. Chujor Fortune Okwah who got 2 votes.
Speaking shortly after his inauguration, the new president, Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu appreciated the people of Ogoni for finding him and his team of EXCO worthy to pilot the affairs of the organisation.
Wai-Ogosu who is a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers said his administration will immediately hit the ground running by working with all stakeholders, Ogoni sons and daughters to restore the past glory of MOSOP.
He said restoring the body as the voice of the Ogoni people and stressing a common ground for Ogonis will be the top priority of the new EXCO while pledging to unite all aggrieved members.
“It gladdens my heart that this whole squabble has come to an end today. And that is as a result of the joint effort of the entire Ogoni people.
“This event is culminating today after a congress convoked by the entire Ogoni people to address the issue for the way forward of MOSOP.
“My assignment is going to be hard and tedious, but with spirit of commitment and the entire people behind me. I will use my experience as a professional and as a grassroot person, together with my team to ensure that we get every person on the same platform of talking for Ogoni.”
“We will work towards ensuring economic stability of Ogoni people, haven contributed, and is still contributing to the well-being and welfare of Nigeria. We are going to be the voice of Ogoni people that will bring to limelight not just to Nigeria but to the International Community, the challenges facing us the Ogoni people. So economically, that is going to be one challenge we are going to address, and we will be doing so with one voice,” he said.
The new Ogoni leader added: “We are going to tell the world that we are ready to talk to government for the development of Ogoniland. Our focus is how to unify the people and make Ogoni people come back to the limelight.
“We are going to be consultative and do our best to unite the people, engage all stakeholders, especially those perceived to be aggrieved in anyway in Ogoni in charting a course for development and progress in Ogoniland”.
On his part, Chairman of the Electoral Committee and former Deputy President of MOSOP, Dr. Abraham Onungwe said the election puts to an end, all crisis surrounding MOSOP.
He said all six kingdoms and the two special areas that made up the Ogoni ethnic nationality participated in the election that produced the new executive.
“It has been a very tedious journey because this ELECO was put up in 2021 and we had started the process when the court stoped us, and since then, we have been in court. From Customary Court to the Court of Appeal, and the Appeal Court vacated the order of injunction.
“So, we alerted MOSOP that the election is to be conducted. The turnout of the election today was very impressive and the process was smooth and very credible.
“It gives me joy that I was the chairman of the electoral body that conducted this election. And I am grateful for the cooperation from the delegates,” he stated.
Earlier, in his remark, former president of MOSOP, Legborsi Pyagbara described the emergence of the new executive as a new dawn in the organisation.
Pyagbara urged the new executive led by Engr. Wai-Ogosu to see their new positions as an opportunity to serve and must consolidate on the legacies of the past leaders of the MOSOP.
Pyagbara called for unity among members, advising the executives to prioritize the issue of reconciling all members of MOSOP and ensure their leadership is inclusive.
Other persons that were elected alongside Wai-Ogosu to form the new MOSOP leadership includes; Mrs. Susan Serekara-Nwikhana ( Deputy President), Chief Nasikpo Nyiedah (Secretary), Mr. Nubara Saatah (Assistant Secretary), Chief Miigbara Wilfred (Financial Secretary), Chief Theophilus Dike (Treasurer), Saviour Oscar Imeabe (Publicity Secretary) and Barr Nkiri Celestine Legal Adviser.
