The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP has accussed Governor Rotimi Amaechi of masterminding the killings in Ogoni people in Sogho community to subject them to accept the government’s planned banana farm. In a press briefing read on behalf of the Ogoni people after a congress in Okwali, Nyokhana kingdom, MOSOP noted that the pattern, precision and ammunition deployed in the killing and destruction of Sogho communities, people and properties reveal a direct replay of the incidents of the 1990s.
Ogoninews.com will bring you the video of the briefing as soon as it gets to us.
Below is the full text of the press breifing:
We the people of Ogon are embarrassed by the renewed massacres of people and destruction of properties in our communities in this millennium. It was least expected following the democratic claims of the federal and state governments in Nigeria at this stage and time of our development. But today, several communities of Sogho in Nyokhana Kingdom of Ogoni have been raised down in effort by the Rivers State Government under Governor Rotimi Amaechi to force the people to surrender their farmlands for what is called Banana plantation.
The period 1993 to 1994 withnessed unprecedented invation and destruction of lives and properties in communities on the boarder regions of Ogoni land. In the southern boarder line, communities including Kpean, Kaa, Gwara, Eeken were razed down. In the North, Oloko, Eemu and others were destroyed with so many lives and properties lost. In same vein, Ogoni inhabitants at water fronts in Port Harcourt were attacked and killed in cold blood.
These mindless killings and destructuions of Ogoni people were sponsored by Shell oil company and the Federal Government under gGeneral Sani Abacha and organised and executed by the government of Rivers State under Governor Rufus Ada George. The target of the attacks was to suffocate the people into surrendering their demands for environmental, economic and social justice.
Today, 2012, Ogoni communities are subjected to another attacks of same character and magnitude as in the 1990s. It is significant that the patern, precicion and ammunitions deployed in the killing and destruction of Sogho communities, people and properties reveal a direct replay of the incidents of the 1990s. This time is under the organisation and supervisiton of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Today, more than 200 houses have been destroyed, several lives lost, starting from the shooting and killing of two men at Sogho town-square meeting by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF). But Governor Rotimi Amaechi who had sworn to protect lives and property shows no concern.
It is great concern that the areas so demarcated for banana plantation between Sogho communities and Tai have oil wells. The unanswered question is why are these oil bearing farms demarcated for banana plantation.Geat questions not answered. We demand thorough investigation of the carnage inflicted on Sogho communities by the Rivers State Government.
We call on all men of goodwill, organisations and world community to come to the rescue of Ogoni people of Sogho. We insist on justice for the land and people.
We also note that we have lost confidence in the present leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under Prof. Ben Naanen.
The MOSOP leadership has not made any categorical statement since the recent killings in Sogo and Ogoni began.
At the last Steering Committee meeting of MOSOP, we learnt that Prof. Ben Naanen had a secret meeting with Shell Nigeria, Shell London, and America at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt. The decisions were not communicated to Ogoni people for over 3 months after the meeting.
This congress decides that Ogoni people have lost confidence in the Prof. Ben Naanen led committee and has decided to dissolve the caretaker committee.
Anyone, indiviual, group or corporate that dels with Prof. Ben Naanen committee does so at his or her own risk.
We therefore decide that the following persons should pioneer the affairs of MOSOP and proceed with elections of MOSOP executives:
Chief Emmanuel Nkala —- Chairman
Mr. Young Kigbara —— Secretary
Chief Keeper Gbaranor —- Member
Miss Joy Chindo ——- Member
Mr. Kpobari Gbidum ——Member
Thank you.
Signed by:
The Vice Chairmen of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People and .
Frank Jonah – Chairman, Coordinators Forum and Coordinator, Nyokhana Kingdom
Yeghebaa Nnaa – Coordinator, Bori Special Unit
Isreal Sor – Coordinator Ken Khana
Monday Deenwa – Coordinator Ban Ogoi
Wilfred Taneh – Coordinator Babbe Kingdom
Barida Vopnu – Coordinator, Gokana kingdom
Bathlomew Oluji – Coordinator, Eleme Kingdom
Chief Keanyiebarido Tambu – Coordinator Tai Kingdom
Source: OgoniNews