The President, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Gininwa has appealed to other Ethnic Nationalities in Rivers State to give the people of Ogoni an opportunity to produce Governor come 2015.
King Gininwa who stated this when the Ogoni Democratic Movement (ODM) led by its President-General, Godwin Bazari paid him a courtesy visit in Korokoro, Tai Local Government Area of the State, said, he would consider such gesture as a retirement benefit.
“My appeal as the father of Rivers State is that Ogoniland should be supported to produce governor in 2015, which will serve as my retirement benefit; give it to me and I will even in my retirement continue to serve Rivers State and Nigeria until the end of my life”. He opined.
King Gininwa, who is also the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, said as an individual and a traditional ruler, he supported the emergence of past governors of the state from other Ethnic Nationalities and pleaded with them to support the people of Ogoni for 2015.
“I have done my bit for other people; I supported late Chief Melford Okilo to become governor. I supported Chief Rufus Ada-George to be governor of this state. I supported Dr. Odili and Governor Chibuike Amaechi. I will like the supports Ogoni people gave them, to be returned.”
Earlier in his speech, President-General of ODM, Godwin Bazari appealed to political parties, groups, leaders of thought and stakeholders in the state to consider the clamour by the people of Ogoni to produce a governor come 2015.
Bazari appealed to Gininwa to assist the group in the campaign for the emergence of an Ogoni son to be governor by talking to traditional rulers from other ethnic groups in the state, insisting that traditional rulers are closer to their subjects than any other.
ODM leadership also paid a courtesy visit on the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Hon. Gbenekanu Kuapie, at the Council Headquarters, Saakpenwa, who advised members of the group to put aside personal ambition as they seek to actualize the Ogoni project.
Meanwhile, ODM has continued to penetrate Ogoniland with the inauguration of the Tai Local Government Area Chapter of the group at Saakpenwa, Headquarters of the Council.
Groups at the ceremony, including, Hausa Community, Rivers People’s Congress (RPC), Ogoni Generation Next Project (OGNP), Ikwerre/Etche Peoples Forum (IEPF), Ogoni Solidarity Forum (OSF) and Rivers South East Women Elders Forum (RSEWEF), pledged their continued support to the campaign for the emergence of an Ogoni as governor in 2015.
