The Movement For The Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has assured the chairman of Khana LGA and other LGAs in Ogoni of support to enable them succeed in their administration.
President of MOSOP, Engr Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu gave the assurance during a familiarisation visit to the Khana Council Chairman, Martins Nwigbo in his office in Bori.
Wai-Ogosu, noted that although the chairman was coming at the time the council was destroyed by suspected hoodlums, assured him that MOSOP under his leadership is ready to support him to change the narratives in Khana and other Ogoni communities.
He also stated that MOSOP under his leadership has the capacity to engage and lead Ogoni on the part of development and entrenching good governance.
“I want to say that MOSOP is well situated now in terms of knowledge, in terms of capacity, in terms of experience and that we are now going outside the terms of activism, we are now going into a period of using proper engagement and consultation to entrench good governance.
“So we want to assure you that we would give you all the necessary support that Khana Local Government can get from us.
While sympathizing with you on the unpleasant incident that happened, we want to tell you that you have people that can stand by you at anytime,” he said.
The MOSOP President lamented the destruction of Ogoni councils especially Khana and Eleme as unacceptable.
“Just coming here and looking at the vandalisation and destruction and also in Eleme, all these happening in Ogoni Nation.
“For a people who struggled to properly situate democracy and all that; we are always hitting ourselves below the belt. It shouldn’t happen and because of not being harmonious, we allow alot of discordant tones and that’s why we are not moving as fast as we can move,” Wai-Ogosu stated.
He noted that MOSOP under his leadership is determined to give Ogoni a paradigm shift and appealed for support from all stakeholders.
“We have been trying to build on peace and make Ogoni come back in determining and being involved in what happens in their environment because if that’s properly addressed, economy would improve, politics would improve.
“This year, our administration is trying to bring a paradigm shift to the November 10 (Matrys’ Day) commemoration . We want to shift away from the ritual of mere celebration to also recognising those who fought by us to enable us achieve what we have now.
“We want critical stakeholders to identify with us in this quest in situating that struggle in proper perspective,” he said.
Responding, Chairman of Khana LGA, Martins Nwigbo while assuring the MOSOP leadership of his support, lamented the division amongst Ogoni people, urging the leadership to do its best to ensure that Ogoni speaks with one voice.
He said until the people are united, development won’t be rapid in the area.
“MOSOP is our own and we must keep it alive. We are having problem amongst ourselves but like you rightly said, it is common with our people. Not just with MOSOP, every person who can read and write has an NGO in Ogoni and that has created alot of division in all the activities of Ogoni people.
“My duty here is to support the Ogoni course. Anything that will make the Ogoni man better I will do that.
“So I want to say that you should continue doing your best to keep MOSOP together. Reconcile every other faction because I know that you are experienced and matured.
“Let’s see how we can put everybody together because people are not going to think thesame but we must have a common ground in everything we do because if we go the way we are going, we are not going to succeed,” Nwigbo stated.
