The Ogoni Generation Next Project, an organization of young Ogoni persons in different Professionals has tasked Ogoni youths against violence in the region. The facilitator of the group, Comrade Kadilo Kabari made the charge during a press conference, Port Harcourt over the weekend. Comrade Kadilo who doubles as the spokesman of the group stated that the Press Conference is to commemorate the brutal murder of some prominent Ogoni sons who lost their lives 20 years ago through violence.
The facilitator (OGNP) further explained that hitherto there was peace and harmony among the Ogonis in their request for a common goal before state actors manipulated the insidious crime to balkanize the Ogoni people through the nefarious activities of the youths.
He pinpointed that the May 21 gruesome murder of Ogoni 4 which subsequently led to the execution of Ogoni 9 on November 10 1995 was the beginning of a duration in the Ogoni Struggle and several other recurring cases of violence in Ogoni land which has caused a big vacuum in leadership in Ogoni land that has resulted into the backwardness of the people both economically, Politically and Socially.
He charged Ogoni youths to shun violence capable of bringing under development and disunity in Ogoni land. Comrade Kabari maintained that the young Ogoni persons are agent of change and as professionals they will do everything possible to continue to enlightening the people through their various programmes while condemning pockets of communal clashes, kidnapping, cult related issues, among others, currently wading through Ogoni land.
The Ogoni Generation Next Project called on relevant government agencies to assist and eliminate issues that may propel crises such as the failure of Federal Government to implement the UNEP REPORT on Ogoni Land, the appalling infrastructural neglect of Ogoni by the Federal Government, continued political marginalization of Ogonis, and the preponderee of unemployment among the teeming youths of population of Ogoni and urged the people to live in peaceful coexistence and united as before while charging leadership at all levels to sustain the agitation for political, social, economic and infrastructural development in the area.
He warned that violence will never pay because just one act of killing four prominent Ogoni sons and the execution of the nine has brought us into a state of disrepair.
When asked why it was delayed for this political period, Bar. Popnen, one of the leaders incharge of Policy & Strategy, said it was not about 2015 election but that their organization is a new one just formed few years ago. On the issue of UNEP Report and marginalization, Mr. Kabari Agara told the press that the effort of Ogoni Generation Next Project triggered the setting up of the HYPREP.
Answering questions on who did the killing in Ogoni land if from within or outside Mr. Gospower lgwe said they are both within and outside. Also speaking Bar. Joe Gborogborsi used the event to inform the people that the body is to chart a new road map on Ogoni land. ###
Pius Dukor
