Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)has condemned in strong terms the violence which was unleashed on Bori community in Ogoni weekend by some people claiming to be celebrating “Ogoni Autonomy Day”.
The incident reportedly occasioned the vandalisation of parts of the secretariat of the Khana Local Government Council in Rivers state and burning of the Nigerian flag hoisted at the council. They also inflicted serious machete injuries on innocent victims as well as damaged shops and looted commercial wares.
Reacting to the incident, the President of MOSOP, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara said in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital that MOSOP dissociates itself from the sad incident occasioned by a so-called celebration of the said non-existing “Ogoni autonomy day.
“MOSOP neither organised nor participated in the event”. It called on the Ogoni people and the general public to take serious note of this. “Whilst we sympathise with all those that have been affected by the unwarranted incident, we urge the security agencies in the area to apprehend and prosecute all those confirmed to have been involved in the disturbance.
“MOSOP continues to stand on the demands of our people as enunciated in the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) particularly on the issue of autonomy within the Federation of Nigeria. The simple meaning of this demand has nothing to do with dismembering the country”.
“We want to reiterate that the quest for Ogoni autonomy continues and once that is guaranteed, Ogoni people and their teeming supporters including members of the international community will join us to celebrate such victory”.
“We would like to warn all those who are misguiding, misinforming and inciting the uninformed youths to resort to violence to desist forthwith. MOSOP has been known and recognised globally as a non-violent organisation which has earned us the admiration and respect of the world. There are far more serious issues, which require our concerted efforts instead of brain-washing vulnerable youths to follow the wrong paths”.
“MOSOP is very prepared to co-operate and collaborate with the authorities and well meaning Ogonis and the security agencies to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous Ogoniland”, MOSOP said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Baria-ara Kpalap.
It will be recalled that Ogoni generally has been in the throes of communal crisis in recent years and at each time leaves many people dead and property worth millions of naira vandalized.
Source: AllAfrica
