Worried over Dr. Goodluck Jonathan-led administration’s inability to implement the recommendations contained in the United Nations report on the pollution of Ogoniland by the multi-national companies especially Shell Petroleum Development Company two years ago after the report has been handed over to federal government for implementation, a royal father in Rivers State, HRH Chief Owabie Tobin, the Eze Onumini 1 of Port Harcourt has expressed disappointment with the present administration’s delay on the issue.
In a chat with the political editor of The Newswriter at his Akokwa Mile 2 Diobu Port Harcourt residence Chief Owabie who lamented over the untold hardship the pollution has caused the people of Ogoni, stressed that it had made their land infertile, deprived them from having clean portable water and other sources of livelihood and called on governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who he described as being close to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as a matter of urgency to advise him (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) to implement the UN report on the pollution of Ogoni land.
The Royal father who recalled governor Amaechi’s speech in a public function said the chief executive officer of the state said his primary duties as the governor of the state was the protection of lives and property of his citizens, stressing that Ogoni was among the people he governs and should not leave them to suffer injustice but rather should protect them by ensuring that the UN report is implemented.
Chief Owabie who is also the coordinator of PFON Port Harcourt chapter commended governor Amaechi for the manner he was piloting the state since he assumed office some years ago and urged him not to relent in his good work, praying that all what he (Amaechi) has planted in the state, God almighty would not allow them to die rather he will reap the fruit of his labour.
The royal father advised the Ogonis to continue to be patient and prayerful and should not be violent stressing that God will help them succeed in their struggle pointing out that Ogoni should know that Ken Saro Wiwa, the father of Ogoni struggle was not violent when he was agitating for the course of Ogoni people, “even if he is dead, he is still agitating for the course of Ogoni in spirit.
Chief Tobin who described Senator Magnus Abe as a matured politician who has been in the government for years, as a former lawmaker in the state, former SSG and former commissioner for information urged him, not to be violent in the agitation of Ogoni course rather should part with Ken Saro Wiwas non violent manner of agitation praying that God should give him victory at the end of the day.
He commended Mrs. Blessing Nsiegbe a lawmaker representing Port Harcourt Constituency II in the federal House of Representative for her good and effective representation of her people.
According to Chief Owabie Tobin, none of the lawmakers who have represented the people of the area in the National Assembly can compare with her in terms of good representation.
“Atleast from time to time she gathers people of her constituency and celebrates with them in several occasion. She did that during the Easter period, Christmas period and last week Friday 29th June, 2012, she gathered the people of the constituency in Port Harcourt office at Abakiliki Street Mile 1, Diobu, celebrated with her people and donated ten vehicles to her constituency, each of the wards that make up the ten ward in the constituency received one vehicle each for commercial purpose which would go a long way in solving financial problems for the wards in the constituency. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
