The Ogoni people in Rivers State have resolved not to adopt any particular candidate for any post in the postponed general election in the state.
They however said they would fully participate in the elections, though they failed to realise their dream of producing a successor to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, whose tenure of office expires on May 29, 2015.
The ethnic nationality group also said they would vote according to their conscience and in adherence to the principle of freedom of choice and association as stated in the Nigerian Constitution.
President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr Legborsi Pyagbara, made this known while speaking at Ogoni General Congress, held in Boris, at the weekend.
The ethnic nationality also resolved to set up a committee, including a representative of traditional rulers, elders and chiefs, youths and women as well as a MOSOP representative, to study a proposal of intent to explore and exploit for oil in its community by Belema Oil Company Limited, an indigenous oil company.
According to Pyagbara, the position was arrived at so as to enable the Ogonis to freely exercise their rights to freedom of choice and association.
“In arriving at our decision here today, the Ogonis have resolved to fully participate in the 2015 general elections. Eligible Ogoni’s will vote for any candidate of their choice in any elective position.
“Although we did not achieve our aim of having an Ogoni to become the governor of Rivers State in 2015, we are confident that we are closer now than we were before in having an Ogoni as the governor of the state.
“The Ogoni agitation against political marginalization has been widely acknowledged. We have demonstrated that we cannot be ignored in the political space.
“We are sure that our position will be taken into consideration in the next governorship election. We are closer to attaining our set objective of producing a governor of Ogoni extraction for Rivers State”, he said.
The congress also agreed that MOSOP should set up a committee to study all proposals by companies that are interested in prospecting for oil in Ogoniland and make recommendations to the congress for further consideration and approval.
Recalled that the reported agreement signed by some traditional rulers in Ogoniland, last week, with Belema Oil Company to explore oil in the area had generated controversy, with MOSOP dissociating itself from the agreement.
While most of those present at the congress spoke in favour of Belema Oil, the paramount ruler of Kegbara-dere, His Royal Highness, Donald Gberesuu, in Gokana Local Government Area, suggested that MOSOP should constitute a committee to study all proposals from companies that are interested in oil prospecting in Ogoniland.
He maintained that it would be difficult for the Ogoni General Congress to consider proposals from oil companies who were desirous of oil extraction in Ogoniland.
His Royal Highness, Mene Suanu Baridam, the paramount ruler of Bangha community, in Khana Local Government Area and chairman, Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, said as far as the Ogonis were concerned only Belema Oil had shown sufficient interest in oil prospecting in Ogoniland.
“Belema Oil came to us and informed us of their interest to prospect for oil in Ogoni. The officials of the company met and spoke with traditional rulers, elders, chiefs, women and youths in different communities in Ogoniland. As I speak here today, I don’t know of any other oil company that is interested in doing business in Ogoniland”, he said.
It was also gathered that officials of Belema would soon embark on another round of talks with traditional rulers, elders, chiefs, women and youths in Ogoniland.
According to King Baridam, Belema Oil was able to convince us with its proposal on youth empowerment, job creation and community development.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
