…Traditional Ruler, Senator Abe Fingered
Nigeria is made up of about 250 distinct ethnic nations. The three (3) major ethnic groups in Nigeria are: Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Each ethnic group has formed a formidable organization to champion its course, the Ogoni nation is not exempted in this regard.
In the year 1990, the Movement of the Survival of the Ogoni Peoples (MOSOP) was formed.
Some of the founding fathers include: Dr. Garrick Leton, Mr. L.L. Lah-Loolo, Ken Saro Wiwa, Mr. Saanaka, Titus Nweke and several Ogoni leaders. The MOSOP was actually formed by the merger of popular existing organizations working for the development of Ogoniland in one way or the other. Examples of such organizations were Ogoni Central Union whose President was Ken Saro Wiwa, the Ogoni Club whose President then was Saanakaa and KAGOTE – an association of Ogoni elite whose President at the time was Dr. Bennett Birabi. The founding fathers of MOSOP, especially Kenule Saro-Wiwa had good intention for the development of the Ogoni nation.
They articulated their strategies in such a way and manner that the Ogoni gained a prominent position on the map of the world.
The MOSOP as a ethnic based organization and social movement group is actually formed for the purpose of fighting for indigenous rights of the Ogonis. The MOSOP formation is predicated on Ogonis suffering and challenges in the oil exploration and exploitation, environmental degradation, lands, stream and creeks.
Now one will be attempted to ask: is MOSOP still operating its activities in line with the dreams of the founding fathers?
We think that the undisputable answer is No, because the crops of leadership handling the affairs of MOSOP has moved completely away from the objectives of the organization. Our investigations about the activities of MOSOP shown that the organization is dead very long time ago due to the selfish ambition of its current leaders.
The current leadership of the group is now thinking of what to gain using the name of MOSOP. Of recent crisis rocked the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) as the group now have two presidents namely Mike Lube-Nwidobie and one Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara. The existence of two factions is not healthy for the development of any ethnic group.
The on-going crisis in the MOSOP is no doubt a devastating blow to the Ogonis both at home and diaspora.
However, some Ogonis who spoke to this weekly alleged that Senator Magnus Abe and Godwin N.K Gininwa, a prominent traditional ruler are the brain behind the MOSOP palaver because of their ulterior motive.
Mr. James Mene told our correspondent that one way to resolve the leadership crisis in MOSOP is to disqualify both Lube-Nwidobie and Saro Pyagbara so as to hold a fresh election.
But according to him, the way and the manner in which he has observed in recent time the activities of MOSOP, the organization is dead and buried hence no matter the level of resuscitation and campaign MOSOP cannot champion the cause of the Ogonis any longer in their quest for development.
“People sacrificed their lives for the Ogoni struggle, now because of selfish gain some individuals from Ogoniland are trading with MOSOP. This ugly behaviour is tantamount to the betrayal of the Ogonis’ dream of better life and economic emancipation”, Mr. James Mene said.
He maintained that the Ogoni struggle will continue to take a back seat, if the right thing is not done, “as Ogoni people we need to go back to the basic, how the founding members carried out their agitation against the economic degradation in the Ogoniland, until we do that, MOSOP will continue to be in the cooler.” ###
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