The Ogoni Peoples Development Forum (OPDF) says it has uncovered plots to discredit and malign proponents of Ogoni Governorship in 2015.
In a statement issued in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, the forum said as part of the plan, prominent Ogoni leaders championing the crusade would be discredited using the media among others.
It revealed that frivolous allegations will be leveled against groups and individuals advocating for the Ogonis, just as other ethnic based organizations would be encouraged to demand Governorship for their respective areas.
In furtherance of the plans, activities of the Amaechi’s administration will be maligned in protest over the Governors seemingly disposition to a particular candidate of Ogoni extraction; it added.
The forum also discovered that the characters of Ogoni sons and daughters perceived to be interested in the Rivers governorship seat will be assassinated.
The statement said the plans being coordinated by a team headed by Jerry Needam have commenced with the circulation of mischievous publications against Bishop Friday Nwator and the intensification of campaign of calumny on Governor Amaechi.
The forum identified other plots now on stream to include the recent seemingly “spanner throwing in the works” move by a group of persons under the aegis of Kalika Assembly, who reasoned that governorship should return to the Rivers West Senatorial district, that governed the state from 1999 to 2007 after producing two deputy governors and three Speakers of the State House of Assembly.
While drawing attention to the scientific report by UNEP indicating that Ogonis were endangered species with their treasures among the worse contaminated in Sub-Saharan Africa, the forum advised the leaders and people of goodwill from across the state not to be deterred in their support for the people to produce a replacement for Governor Amaechi in 2015.
The statement described Bishop Nwator as an exemplary clergyman whose genuine commitment to the peace and security of Rivers State, Niger Delta and Nigeria remains unparallel and passed a vote of confidence in the activities of the Amaechi administration as well as the demands by the Ogonis.
It emphasized that the forum was not unaware of the battle by Nigerians to survive the precarious economic situation in the country, but such efforts the statement said should not be at the expense of people highly devastated despite their contributions and sacrifice to nation building.
The forum described the plans as distasteful to political justice and fairness; urging Rivers people to ignore such publications and restated its call on other senatorial districts to support the Rivers South-East particularly the Ogonis in 2015, to balance leadership equation in the state.###
……………………
