* Naanen is Mitee’s stooge – Diigbo
The leadership crisis rocking the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) over the August 2 declaration of self-government by factional leader, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, widened at the weekend, with the Professor Ben Naanen faction describing the move as ‘madness’.
Naanen, leader of the MOSOP Provisional Council, disassociated the people of Ogoni from the declaration, saying Diigbo’s action was his (Diigbo’s) personal decision and not representative of the views of the Ogoni people.
The MPC President’s declaration comes on the heels of similar position by Diigbo, who insisted that Naanen’s position is not recognized by MOSOP. Diigbo hinted that his opponent was installed by the past President of MOSOP, Mr. Ledum Mittee, apparently to perpetuate himself in office.
Speaking in a radio programme – View Point – on Rhythm FM, monitored in Port Harcourt, Prof Naanen and Secretary of the MPC, Dr. Mishak Kaanwi, insisted that Diigbo is not a factional leader of MOSOP, which is the socio-cultural and political umbrella body of the Ogoni people.
According to them, the declaration was self-premeditated, lacking consultation with the people of Ogoni, and lacked the support of the people.
They, however, admitted that the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) demanded from the Federal Government among other things, local autonomy, but not the Diigbo’s way.
Prof. Naani noted that: “Actually, the OBR talked about local autonomy; autonomy is one of those things contained in the political continuum when determination has not ripened.
“Ogoni people are not asking for sovereignty, they are not asking for nationhood, the bill of rights recognises local autonomy. There is a guiding principle to Ogoni struggle, it does not talk about sovereign nationhood administration; what Ogoni people wanted was local autonomy, the autonomy to manage their own affairs; to protect their environment, control certain aspect of their land; it is all contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights.
“The local autonomy Ogoni people are asking for here is widely known as true federalism, not the type GoodLuck is talking about.”
Corroborating Naani’s statement, Dr. Kaanwii stated: “GoodLuck Diigbo is not a MOSOP factional leader, he is an individual who came up and wants to cause confusion, and we leave him to the government to determine how to deal with that issue. He is not a MOSOP official, he does not represent the people.
“Diigbo has been out of the country for a long time, and he appeared some months before Mr. Ledum Mitee handed over office to the provisional council, and declaring himself as a MOSOP president.”
Source: The Nation
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