Leaders of the Ogoni ethnic nationality on Monday, rose from a strategic leadership congress with a vehement call for the cessation of all acts of insecurity and cult-related violence currently ravaging parts of Ogoni land.
The position was contained in a communique issued after a multi-stakeholders meeting held at the historic Gbene Gininwa Hall in Tai Kingdom of Ogoni land under the auspices of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers led by His Royal Majesty, King G.N.K. Gininwa OFR, JP, the Gbenemene Tai Kingdom and immediate past Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers who was physically present at the meeting.
The multi-stakeholders meeting, one of the most holistic and all-encompassing gatherings of Ogoni leaders of all strata of society in recent time was chaired by elder statesman, Senator Dr Bennett Birabi, a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and President of Gbo Kabaari of Ogoni land.
The Ogoni leadership groups present were Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers led by HRM King Gininwa; the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) led by Mr Legborsi Pyagbara; KAGOTE led by Sir Dr. Peter Medee; the political leadership of Ogoni led by the Senator Magnus Abe; the Gbo Kabaari; COTRA led by HRM Suanu Baridam, Mene Bangha Kingdom; the clergy and the Ogoni Council of Churches led by Bishop Gberegbara; the academia led by Professor B.B. Fakae; labour union groups led by Comrade Menele Nzidee; captains of industries; retired and serving military officers; technocrats, students and youth bodies; civil society groups and faith-based organizations.
The leaders, drawn from all strata of life, for the love and wellbeing of their ancestral land and the peace, progress and prosperity of Ogoni buried their differences, brainstormed and synchronized to find lasting and workable solutions to the incessant security breaches that have bedeviled Ogoni land, stunted meaningful development in the area and made the great Ogoni a laughing stock in the comity of nations with “Enough is enough” as the central theme of the meeting called to deal exclusively with the security situation in Ogoni land.
They were also asked to shelve party affiliation, petty political rivalry, unforgiving spirit, petty jealousy and all other malaise that have held Ogoni down were jettisoned for the spirit of unity of purpose to hold sway.
Far-reaching decisions were taken to curb insecurity in the land and return Ogoni land to that pristine, hospitable and peaceful haven where all and sundry were happy to associate with.
Senator Magnus Abe spoke strongly about rediscovering the value system of the Ogoni people that made them abhor criminal activities with disdain for those who indulged in them.
He also said leaders must work together to appeal to government authorities to get Ogoni people a police force that will be able to maintain law and order in Ogoni land.
A strong and decisive message also rang from the gathering to all cult groups and gang leaders terrorizing communities in Ogoni land: the time to stop has come, “because if we collectively cook for you, you cannot finish it”.
This was culled from a very precise message delivered by Mr Ledum Mitee, former President of MOSOP and Chairman of the Niger Delta Technical Committee.
The meeting was party-blind as leaders from the two leading political parties sat together to find a common solution to the insecurity situation in Ogoni land.
Those present at the meeting were Senator-elect, Barry Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe, Secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani; Hon Maurice Pronen, member of House of Representatives; Hon Commissioner of Finance, Dr Fred Kpakol; member- elect for Khana/Gokana federal constituency Hon Dum Deekor; Hon Dr John Bazia; member representing Tai constituency in the state Assembly, Hon Mathew Matthew Nenubari Dike; Hon Friday Nkee, member representing Khana constituency 2 in the Assembly among others.
The Communique reads
COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF OGONI LEADERS MEETING AT SAKPENWA, TAI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON MONDAY 22ND APRIL 2019
We the leaders of Ogoni comprising Elders, Political Officeholders, Elected Representatives of the people, Traditional Rulers, Chiefs, Religious leaders, community leaders, women and youth groups met at a Congress of the OGONI People held on Monday the 22nd day of April 2019 at Sakpenwa the headquarters of Tai Local Government Area. At the end of which the following resolutions were passed :
1. We expressed gratitude to all the leaders for their show of unity and cooperation in attending this crucial Congress to discuss the pressing issues of security of lives and property in Ogoniland, even at very short notice;
2. Having reviewed the current deteriorating security situation in Ogoniland, we express profound sadness over and wholeheartedly condemn the spate of killings, cases of cult wars and other criminal activities in parts of Ogoni especially in Khana Local Government Area that has created a deep sense of insecurity;
3. We hereby warn all those involved in such activities to put an end to such activities forthwith and surrender their arms and all instruments of violence and subject themselves to traditional oaths in their respective communities within 14 days;
4. At the expiration of the 14 days any person who fails to abide by the decision should be declared an enemy of the people and treated as such;
5. We are resolved that Traditional and Community leaders including Youth leaders who harbour these criminals or host their camp or fail to administer the Traditional oaths on their subjects or fail to expose the identities of perpetrators of these crimes would not only be deposed but treated as accomplices;
6. A dedicated telephone number would be created and publicized for each Local Government Area for people to send credible even if anonymous actionable information on any threats to security in their area;
7. We also resolve to send a high powered delegation of the Ogoni leadership to urgently meet with the Government to seek their necessary support to drive the peace process, and in particular, with a view to setting up a Special Task Force to track down and appropriately deal with any person that further engages in such nefarious activities;
8. We further resolve to convene a meeting with all youth leaders and youth groups to get their buy-in and perspectives and thereafter another Congress in no distant future to reappraise the situation as well as addressing other issues affecting our people;
9. We urge all our people to be vigilant and join the new spirit of unity of purpose being ushered into Ogoni and to this end, appeal to our people against making public statements capable of causing disunity.
DATED AT SAKPENWA THIS 22ND DAY OF APRIL 2019
10. HIS MAJESTY, KING G.N.K. GININWA OFR, JP ( Gbenemene, Tai)
11. SEN. (DR.) BENNETT BIRABI
12. CHIEF KENNETH KOBANI JP ( SSG, RIVERS STATE)
13. SEN. MAGNUS N. ABE
14. LEDUM MITEE
15. HRH GODWIN BEBE OKPABI ( Oyale, Eleme)
16. RT REV. DR. SOLOMON S. GBEREGBARA
17. R. ADMIRAL J.N. BAKPO ( Rtd.)
18. CHIEF PRISCILLA VIKUE
19. DR. PETER MEDEE
20. RT. HON. DUMNAMENE DEKOR.
