The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People(MOSOP) has condemned the purported selection by the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) of its flagbearer in the upcoming 2015 Rivers State gubernatorial competition, an action which is a negation of the present Ogoni campaign for political justice requiring political parties to field Ogoni candidates.
Speaking from Geneva, Switzerland where he had led the Ogoni delegation to the Federal Government-UNEP-Ogoni meeting in Geneva and now representing Ogoni in the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, the President of MOSOP, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara Said:
“We condemn in strong terms this disappointedly appalling action of the APC reportedly influenced by the leader of the party in the state, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The process besides being a sham, has rubbished the party’s trumpeted respect and commitment to internal democracy and it demonstrably smacks of the highest level of impunity”
“We are aware that the motto of the APC includes justice and equity. We do not see how this action of the party which is not in sync with transparency, accountability, fairness and justice promotes its motto aforesaid and declared commitment to internal democracy. We consider this action of the party and its leader as an expression of rejection, display of hatred and humiliation of the Ogoni ethnic nationality”.
“MOSOP is aware that on several occasions including meetings with Ogoni leaders at Government House, Port Harcourt, His Excellency, Governor Amaechi had excused the press from the meeting and promised that in view of the community’s acknowledged political marginalisation, enormous contributions and sacrifices, he would ensure equity and justice is done to the Ogoni people by handing-over to an Ogoni come 2015. We are thus unable to rationalise the wisdom in the present approach. It is undoubtedly a provocatively saddening and undeserving slap on our face and we would not be silent over it. It is a denigration of our collective campaign for political justice and we would not accept it. We must fight this to the end”.
“We therefore call on the party to reverse this position in the interest of justice, fairness and equity”.
“Nevertheless, we call on the Ogoni people to remain calm as we assure that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that justice is achieved. We also want to appeal to all Ogoni people to come out in their numbers to participate in the present INEC organised Permanent Voters Card (PVC) collection and new registration exercise taking place in the area. Our vote is our strength and therefore no distraction or confusion should sway us otherwise”.
Meanwhile, an Ogoni General Congress planned under the auspices of MOSOP has been scheduled to hold on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Bori-Ogoni. The meeting would review the present situation and resolve on appropriate options. All Ogonis are therefore urged to attend unfailingly.
Signed:
Bari-ara Kpalap
Media/Public Affairs Advisor to the MOSOP President
29 November 2014
