Business mogul, Chief Lesi Maol has been elected as president of KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ogoni people.
This followed a congress held in Gwara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Maol was elected unopposed, a development widely seen as a reflection of the confidence reposed in his leadership and vision for the advancement of Ogoniland.
Chief Lesi Maol’s emergence brings to a close the administration of the former leadership under the Board of Trustees Chairman of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, Emmanuel Deeyah.
Shortly after his election, Maol while giving his acceptance speech, announced his first major intervention with focus on reviving primary education across the four local government areas of Ogoniland such as Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.
He disclosed that a special committee has been constituted to gather comprehensive data on the number of existing teachers and the population of pupils in all public primary schools within the area.
To ensure the effective execution of the assignment, Chief Maol approved the release of ₦2 million as logistics support for the committee to visit all primary schools across Ogoniland. The data to be collected, he explained, will guide decision-making on teacher recruitment and deployment, as well as broader strategies to restore effective teaching and learning in Ogoni primary schools.
He described the initiative as the first step in a broader development agenda under his leadership, emphasizing that education will remain a top priority of his administration.
Other officers elected include Barrister Baride Gwezia as First Vice President representing Tai, Rear Admiral Nicolas Bakpo as Second Vice President from Khana, and Osaroepie Nana as Third Vice President representing Eleme.
Chief Oboba Obaa was elected Secretary, while Eric Nwibani emerged as Treasurer.
Traditional ruler HRH, Kadilo Barina Kabari was elected Welfare Officer, Dr. Jacobson Nbina as Financial Secretary, Comrade Menele Nzidee as Publicity Secretary, and Aaron Mimi as Legal Adviser.
In his acceptance speech, Chief Lesi Maol expressed gratitude to members of KAGOTE for the confidence reposed in him.
The congress was attended by prominent Ogoni leaders, including Senator Barry Mpigi, who represents the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, and Rt. Honorable Dum Dekor, member representing Khana/Gokana in the House of Representatives.
The election process was supervised by the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Dr. Mbakpone Friday Okpe, who served as Electoral Chairman, with the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr. Thomas Bariere, as a member of the electoral committee, alongside the chairmen of Eleme and Gokana.
