The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says the choice of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship flag bearer in Rivers State has rubbished the party’s trumpeted respect and commitment to internal democracy. The Movement described the action a total negation to the present Ogoni campaign for political justice requiring political parties to field Ogoni candidates.
The President of MOSOP, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara made this known in a statement Issued from Geneva, Switzerland, where he had led the Ogoni delegation to the Federal Government-UNEP-Ogoni meeting.
Pyagbara said the action of the party and its leader is considered as an expression of rejection, display of hatred and humiliation of the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
“We condemn in strong terms this disappointedly appalling action of the APC reportedly influenced by the leader of the party in the state, governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“The process besides being a sham, has rubbished the party’s trumpeted respect and commitment to internal democracy and it demonstrably smacks of the highest level of impunity”
“We are aware that the motto of the APC includes Justice and Equity, but we do not see how this action of the party, which is not in sync with transparency, accountability, fairness and justice promotes its motto aforesaid and declared commitment to internal democracy.”
Continuing, he said, “MOSOP is aware that on several occasions including meetings with Ogoni leaders at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi had excused the press from the meeting and promised that in view of the community’s acknowledged political marginalisation, enormous contributions and sacrifices, he would ensure equity and justice is done to the Ogoni people by handing-over to an Ogoni come 2015.”
He said, “we are thus unable to rationalise the wisdom in the present approach. It is undoubtedly a provocatively saddening and undeserving slap on our face and we would not be silent over it. It is a denigration of our collective campaign for political justice and we would not accept it. We must fight this to the end.”
Pyagbara however, called on the party to reverse the position in the interest of justice, fairness and equity.
“Nevertheless, we call on the Ogoni people to remain calm as we assure that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that justice is achieved. We also want to appeal to all Ogoni people to come out in their numbers to participate in the present INEC organised Permanent Voters Card (PVC) collection and new registration exercise taking place in the area. Our vote is our strength and therefore no distraction or confusion should sway us otherwise.”
It would be recalled that APC had on Wednesday, November 26, endorsed the lawmaker representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Mr. Dakuku Peterside as its governorship candidate for next year’s general elections against an Ogoni guber aspirant Sen. Magnus Abe, the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial district.
