Ahead of the governorship election in Rivers State, leaders in Ogoniland has charged political parties to present candidates from the area as their flagbearers.
The Ogoni leaders, including some governorship aspirants from Ogoniland, gave this charge on Sunday shortly after their closed door meeting in Port Harcourt.
Speaking under the aegis of Ogoni Leadership Forum, spokesman of the group, Professor Walter Ollor, explained that political parties must take such a step in the interest of justice and fair play.
Ollor, who read a communique signed by over 37 members of the forum, emphasised the people of Ogoni were not interested in the position of the deputy governor.
He stated that the people of Ogoni would support only the political party that present a candidate from Ogoniland for the 2015 governorship election.
“The primary role of Ogoni people is the struggle for the recognition of the rights of the minorities of the Niger Delta in Nigeria’s political development.
“All political parties seeking to fill candidates for the forthcoming governorship election in Rivers State should consider the aspiration of their members from Ogoniland.
“The people of Ogoniland will support only that political party which fields a candidate for the governorship election from Ogoniland as
political parties, which fill Ogoni candidates as second fiddle office holders will not enjoy the support of Ogoni people,” Ollor said.
He, however, appealed to other ethnic groups in the state to support the Ogoni course.
Ollor pointed out that the forum was no longer calling for the support of Rivers South East to produce the next governor, arguing that the
Andoni and Opobo had occupied the position of the deputy governor for 16 years.
“We appeal to other etnic groups in Rivers State to support the Ogoni course. Parts of the Rivers South East; Andoni and Opobo, have occupied the office of the deputy governor for 16 years. So, they have had their own shot at the office of the governor,” he stressed.
Source: Punch
