When Governor Amaechi got re-elected in 2011, the same marginalization and insult was shared to Ogoni; deputy speaker. This is the peak of tribal politics being played against the Ogoni since the creation of Rivers State. In terms of ministerial positions, apart from a brief stints of Dr. Garrick Leton (of blessed memory) as minister of Health, Dr. Benneth Birabi as minister of sports and lately Chief Precious Osaro Ngelale Ogoni has also suffered marginalization at the federal level.
With the help of hindsight, one will agree with me that commercial oil deposit was discovered in Ogoni in the year, 1958, two years after same was discovered in Oloibiri in Bayelsa State. Admittedly, what really added to the call for the creation of an oil Rivers State was located in the rich mineral resources , crude oil not palm oil or Risonpalm oil. The whole economic life of Nigeria is oil, crude oil. What accounts for the drift to urbanization in Port Harcourt is the presence of oil in the state majority of which is found in Ogoni. No doubt, crude oil is the fulcrum and life wire of Nigeria’s economic policy.
Nobody in Nigeria mentions crude oil without mentioning Ogoni and Ken Saro Wiwa, the slaughtered sage.
In terms of human resources, Ogoni parades the best brains among other ethnic groups in Nigeria not even only within Rivers State. I am not locating these far away, when Professor Theo Vincent from my village became the 1st Ogoni professor many ethnic groups in the state have not celebrated a Phd. holder. When Bishop Frank Vincent from my village became the 1st African Bishop or Rivers Bishop of the Methodist church Port Harcourt Diocese many ethnic groups in Rivers State have only seen a bishop on their black and white televisions. When Rev. Father Joseph Kabari from my village became the first Ogoni Catholic priest most ethnic groups in Rivers State thought only a white man could take the oath of celibacy. When Dr. Constance Saro wiyor from Gwara town (Ogoni) became the first female commissioner in the state, many women in the state were still going to fishing or farm and have not seen the four walls of a university.
Ogoni have produced two ArchBishops in the persons of Most Rev’d A. S. Vurasi and Most Rev’d Ignatius Kattey. Ogoni is the region where Ken Saro Wiwa, the nationalist, the environmental crusader, the human right activist and martyr hailed from. The death of Ken Saro Wiwa created an impetus in the emancipation of the entire Niger Delta region and today we are enjoying the benefits of Aso Rock.
The likes of Chief E. D. Sigalo, chief E.N. Kobani, chief I.S Kogbara, A.T. Badey were protagonists of the creation of Rivers state among others. Least I forget the contributions of Kemte Giadom and Hon. D.K. Badom who were pioneers of the second Republic politics which positioned Rivers state in an enviable manner. They were among those who fought for what we now call the pride of Rivers state. Though most of these men are dead some of them are still alive and deserve the respect of who ever stirs the ship of this state. Chief B.M Wifa SAN, Hon. D.K Badom, HRM King G.N.K Gininwa etc are among a long list of prominent Ogoni worth the regard or respect of Rivers state. The endless list of professors from Ogoni, bureaucrats, technocrats, decent politicians, young patriots and other intellectuals exposes the bare truth that from cradle ogoni has not been bereft of human resources to meet the requirement of a good and decent leadership, in Rivers State and indeed Nigeria. In the Diaspora the likes of Prof. Gbaranen Gbaranaador and countless others litter in the US, the U.K, Canada etc.
The best female commissioners ever got in the state are Ogonis or have you forgotten the days of Dr. Constance Saro-wiyor, Sarah Ntor-ue, Julie Nwika, Prof. Roselyn Konya etc? The days of a second fiddle positions are over. The Ogoni man has no other option than to lead Rivers State as governor. The delay, the marginalization, the days of slavery, the day of cajoling and bamboozling are over.
The political conspiracy against the Ogonis in the state must now than ever be closely monitored. The Ogonis cannot afford to further be treated as strangers or slaves in their land, their state. It is now their birthright than ever.
Truly, what is good for the goose, must also be good for the gander. The era of monkey dey work baboon dey chop is over. Rivers State does not belong to the Ijaws, the Ikwere/Etches or the Orashis alone. It also belongs to the Ogonis.
It is thus deeply and strongly advocated that as 2015 draws nigh, the political parties that would demand the patronage of the great and highly endowed Ogoni should pick a decent and intellectually sound Ogoni son or daughter to fly its flag as governorship candidate. Anything short of that will be tantamount to insulting the sensitivity of the Ogoni. Let me thus warn that nobody should come to the Ogonis to present our son or daughter as deputy governor or speaker. The ogonis have been cheated for too long and nothing short of the brick House is acceptable. If it is a lawyer that will be there, Ogoni has enough even a SAN. If it is an Accountant Ogoni has even Phd holders in Accountancy or management. If it is an economist, Ogoni has experts in economics. If the Government is hungry for a man who read English, Ogoni has it in abundance. If the government is looking for a professor, Ogoni has more than enough. Is it a cleric? Ogoni has Archbishops and Bishops in plentitude.
I join the MOSOP president, Mr. Legborsi Pygbara, a man I love and share ideas with to demand for an Ogoni Governor of a united Rivers state or in the alternative, the creation of an Ogoni or Bori state. Once beaten twice shy. All the deceits by unconscionable politicians which tend to call the Ogoni fools should now be bequeathed into the limbo of things past. We are not looking for an S.S.G or a Chief of staff. The Ogonis say, Governor or nothing. Shikena. The Ijaws in the state have been Governor, the Ikwere/Etches have been governor, the Orashis have been governor. That government House does not thus forbid Ogoni. The Ogoni is now the option and of course, the best option. Let no one thus insult us, please. ###
Barr. Gideon Kpoobari Girigiri
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