The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) considers the reported anointment of the sponsor of the Obuah led PDP in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, by the party’s chair as a sentimentally disappointing approach representing a huge conspiracy against the Ogoni gubernatorial move that is of grave concern. We also consider the action as an appalling and shameful response to our quest. MOSOP thus call on the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party to call its Rivers chair, Chief Felix Obuah to order.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, the president of MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara said:
“the deed in our view, is not only a deliberate infringement on fairness but also politically inept, insensitive and unfortunate. It is clear that the Ogoni governorship quest is most popular and widely and overwhelmingly supported within and outside Rivers State. The PDP would be losing a golden opportunity to monopolize and secure to its electoral advantage the huge Ogoni voting strength if it fails to commit her platform to any Ogoni seeking to govern Rivers State as Governor in 2015. The sustained unguarded and inflammable utterances and actions of the PDP state chairman, demonstrably betrays a devious attempt at scuttling Ogoni political interest and it is unacceptable. If the untoward development is not addressed, it would require inflexible Ogoni response”.
“We are aware that Chief Obuah is acting a script as we know the forces at play. However, the stance reflects an implicit admission of what we have all along been suspecting. Nonetheless, we would like to warn that Ogoni will refuse to be confined to being heavers of water and fetchers of wood in a state that we are not inferior but eminently qualified”.
“The Obuah led PDP insistence on depriving Ogoni of her deserved berth at the office of governor of the state meant that the red line has been crossed and would no doubt provoke tough, decisive attention as we will not continue to be political passerby in our state. Again, is it not unfair that while Rivers West and East senatorial districts have produced governors of the state under a zoning understanding, efforts are being made to deny Rivers South East Senatorial district of the opportunity others have enjoyed?”
“The Obuah/Wike’s intention to scuttle the political understanding in the state is definitely anti-Ikwerre and his party. MOSOP feels the PDP chair’s action negates internal democracy and paints the platform in bad light”.
“Without mincing words, MOSOP would pursue this course with the same vigour, collectivity and articulation with which it fought environmental injustice in addition to effective mobilization of the Ogoni society. Whilst we are resolute on our position and would resist temptations to be swayed otherwise, we will continue to stick to our avowed commitment to methodological purity and peaceful advocacy”.
“Let it be known that Ogoni will support any political party in Nigeria that provides her platform for the actualization of the Ogoni quest for the position of governor of Rivers State in 2015”.
A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
