By: Felix Ikpotor
As the 2023 general elections draw closer, a first class monarch in Rivers State, King Godwin Gininwa has appealed to political parties and people of the state to consider choosing a governor from the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
Gininwa who is the Gbenemene Tai Kingdom and President, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, made the appeal at his palace in Korokoro Tai, during a thank you visit by the immediate past representative of the Rivers South East at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe.
Gininwa who noted that the Ogonis have supported other ethnic nationalities in the past to be governors said the area is blessed with capable hands to lead the state.
“I want to make an appeal that Rivers people should change their minds, we are part and parcel of this state. Ogoni people should be considered for governor this time. We have those that are qualified in our land to govern this state,” he said.
The monarch also appealed for peace in the state.
“I appeal to the Ogoni people that in this 2022, that there should be peace in Ogoniland, there should be peace in Rivers State.
I want Ogoni people to respect government and support the government in power. The governor is our Governor. We don’t have two governors. Love yourselves, stop the shootings and killings in Ogoni, enough is enough,” he stated.
In his speech, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe said he was at the palace to appreciate King Gininwa and the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers for the title of Mene Suanu 1 of Ogoniland bestowed on him.
“Your royal majesties and highnesses, I came here to thank you deeply for the title and honour you gave to me as Mene Suanu 1 of Ogoni ( King of Wisdom).Your majesties, we all know that men and women are honoured in their different communities for different things achievements. Some people are honoured because they have grown old and they are respected and honoured for their age. They can be given a title and be honoured in different places. Some people are honoured because of their wealth because they have been able to accumulate so much in a society where everybody is struggling to accumulate. When you have more than others you can be honoured if you use your wealth to contribute to the people of the community. Some people are honoured because of their capacities but I want to say that I know that I’m the only person that is being honoured just out of cheer love that you all have for me because I do not think that I have done anything to deserve the kind of love and support that you have all given to me that’s why I felt it’s important for me to come here personally to say thank you,” he said.
He used the occasion to advise the traditional institution in Ogoni to show more interest in the future of the state.
“I do not believe that when it comes to the future of our people, anybody is too big or too small to be interested because ultimately, what happens to the society, what happens to the community, state and country will affect each and everyone of us no matter how far we are”.
“If you say you are a traditional ruler and as such not interested in what happens in the country, when things go wrong you’re the first person they will even hold. When the community scatters, when people cannot sleep in their houses it’s you that they will call, so you can’t be too far from what is happening around you. “You should not be partisan and you have not been partisan, but it’s important that you should look around you and be aware of what is going on in the community”.
“Everybody knows that in 2023, Nigeria will have general elections. That election would be an opportunity for Nigerians which includes all of us here today to look around us and forge a new way forward”.
Abe who stated that he has not declared for governorship of the state, pointed out that the quest for an Ogoni governor is not about himself but for political inclusion of the people of the area.
“When people talk about me and governorship, I want to use this opportunity to say clearly for everybody to hear that it’s not about Senator Abe being governor, it’s not about an Ogoni man being governor. It’s important that the Ogoni people for the purposes of inclusion should have a sense of wellbeing in the fact that having been part of a state for almost sixty years, you too should be able to say that you were included in a inclusive system of government,” he said.
The former Secretary to Rivers State Government urged the traditional rulers to sensitize their people on the need for them to go and register as voters in their domain.
