With this year’s celebration of Ogoni National day, the Bonny branch of the Ogoni Progressive Union (OPU) roled out her traditional drums in a two-day event.
The occasion started with carols, march pass and burning of candles at the workers camp villages, Bonny.
It ended with cultural display, presentation of addresses and speeches from Ogoni elites and other invitees.
In his address, Ledum Mitee, Mosop President, on the 16th Ogoni Heroes day, stated that the gathering was to remember the heroic sacrifices made by their leaders and compatriots, like Ken Saro-Wiwa, Chief Eward Kobani, Albert Badey, and others.
The address was read by OPU president, Bonny, Mr. Legbara Sinee.
Mitee stated that the Ogoni Bill of Rights was launched in 1990, and they complained about environmental devastation, political marginalization and economic strangulation that threatened to drive “our People into extinction,2 adding, “we could only speak for ourselves, but we knew very well that our message applied also to the rest of the Niger Delta where People were undergoing similar devastation we suffer”.
The Mosop president said the murder of the |Ogoni 13, as they refer to their martyrs, was “no doubt the darkest period in our struggle for justice”.
In his speech, the president of Ogoni Progressive Union, Mr. Legbara Sinee, lauded all members of OPU for making the occasion a huge success in the area.
He extended his appreciations to all invitees who honoured the invitations.
Legbara charged all sons and daughters of Ogoni land to remain focus within the festival season, as they may be traveling from one place to another.
In his remarks, Mr. Bara Brown commended OPU for her co-existence in Bonny LGA.
Brown charged other ethnic groups in the area to emulate the spirit of unity among others in the island. He appealed to Ogonis in Bonny to work as a team to enable them achieve the objective of the association.
Brown promised to support OPU, whenever he may called upon. ###
David Christopher Hart
