The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has bemoan what it describes as the ongoing political marginalisation and systemic exclusion of the Ogoni people from the governance structures of Rivers State.
MOSOP said it has watched with deep concern as the current crop of political power brokers in the state and country continues to sideline qualified Ogoni sons and daughters from strategic leadership positions especially that of the governorship.
MOSOP came out with this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, saying the exclusion undermines the principles of federal character, equity, and justice.
The movement accused the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike and some Ogoni elites of undermining the fate of the entire ethnic nationality.
It also accused the Federal Government of adopting same system that led to the killing of several Ogoni leaders over 30 years ago.
”MOSOP wishes to remind the Federal Government and the global community that this exact pattern of state-sponsored neglect, economic exploitation, and political stifling led to the tragic extrajudicial execution of the Ogoni Nine and the massacre of thousands of Ogonis over 30 years ago. The wounds of that era remain unhealed. To repeat the same administrative arrogance today is to insult the memory of our martyrs and dare the resilience of our people.
”We state categorically that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside a handful of self-serving, non-representative Ogoni individuals, lacks the moral, political, or cultural mandate to negotiate or decide the fate of Ogoniland,” the statement read.
The movement stated categorically that no individual or external proxy can sell out Ogoni interests, stressing that decisions regarding the political future of the people requires total community consensus.
It called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately address the political exclusion of the people of Ogoni, adding that this is also the best time for the president to demonstrate his sincerity of purpose towards addressing the Ogoni situation and approach on his quest to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland within the current political circle.
The Ogoni group used the medium to remind the Federal Government and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, that the people of Ogoni has made tremendous contribution to the survival of not only the Niger Delta region, but also to Nigeria at large, saying it is worrisome that the people of Ogoni could be “mocked at this high level”.
MOSOP pointed out that the Ogonis are not undermining other ethnic groups in Rivers State, but that it believe that at this point and following the political trajectory of the various ethnic groups in the state, it was supposed to be the people of Ogoni deciding their future and producing a governor, especially as Mr. President looked towards taking their resources.
It warned that the ongoing quest by President Tinubu to resume oil exploration in the area would remain a mirage until the issue of political exclusion of the people is adequately addressed.
”President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should know that his ongoing quest to resume oil extraction in Ogoniland will remain an absolute impossibility until the fundamental issues of political justice and economic equity are addressed. You cannot extract our resources while deleting our voice from the table of governance. A question mark hangs over any oil resumption plan that ignores the blood-bought struggle of our people.
”MOSOP want to inform Mr. President that if this decision is not rescinded and the political exclusion of Ogoni people not addressed especially in this election circle, it could affect our voting support for the re-election bid of Mr. President, ” it added.
