- from Akanimo Sampson -
PRESIDENT of the Ogoni mass organisation, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, has said that the kinsmen and women of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, will embark on a journey to regain their sovereign independence violated by the British Empire in 1901.
This, he said in an online statement to AkanimoReports on Wednesday, will be non-negotiable; if by any mistake, there is another civil war aiming at Ogoni.
Diigbo recalled that the Nigeria-Biafra civil war was fought to decide who should control natural wealth, especially petroleum resources in Ogoni. He said he was alerting the world that in the event of another similar civil war, the Ogoni people will promptly declare an end to their relationship with Nigeria.
Diigbo said that the Ogoni people are monitoring the heart-beat of Nigeria and warned that the right to autonomy or self-determination remains a pre-condition now, for Ogoni to remain a part of Nigeria.
Diigbo said the decision was arrived at after MOSOP had resolved and declared that May 7 to June 6, 2012 be observed as the Ogoni Freedom-Remembrance-Month.
”MOSOP dedicated the month to Ogoni 30,000 refugees, most of them conscripts sent to battle fronts and were killed during the 1967-1970 Nigeria-Biafra civil war”, Diigbo said, adding, ”already another 10 percent of the civil war Ogoni casualties, numbering over 3,000 have been murdered by the Nigerian armed forces since 1993 in an attempt to intimidate MOSOP”.
Diigbo said all Ogoni children, men and women who died gave their lives for freedom behind the May 7 to June 6, activities. The beginning of the month coincides with the start of the annual United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues holding in New York.
”Saturday, May 19 will feature traditional rituals, May 20 for church services, while May 21 and 22 will be work free days for nationwide nonviolent activities to unite Ogonis for a new era.
”On May 21, 1994 four Ogoni elders: Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage and another Chief Orage were murdered at Giokoo, while the security forces kidnapped Ken Saro-Wiwa on May 22, 1994 to face a predetermined death sentence handed down by Justice Ibrahim Auta, a judicial rubber stamp.
”Auta who presided over a kangaroo tribunal where Saro-Wiwa was taken read out trumped up charges to hang Saro-Wiwa in a Port Harcourt prison on November 10, 1995.
”In addition to tree-planting, in cities, towns and villages throughout Ogoni, traditional dancing groups, churches, clubs, organizations, schools and businesses would be contributing entertainment, money, skills, time and friendship to strengthen MOSOP Freedom Agenda”, the Ogoni group said.
No. of Views:901
all what d people of Ogonis are asking 4 is Resource control and self-determination. the people of OgoniLand had suffered over 50yrs of oil pollution on their land and oil company(SHELL PLC)& the Nigerian government did nothing about. last yr the UNEP had successfully conducted a scientific study of d area and requested the fed Govt to urgently start d remediation process. but up-till now nothing as been done. so, did u think this people will be angry?
Correct me if I am wrong, wasn’t Ken Saro-Wiwa against the succession of Biafra? What happened to the dream of a united Nigeria..hmmm
Danjuma attacked by core north on statement he made regarding failed state and Somalized north dragging Nigeria with it. How Mr north was attacked by the core. Tabara in a war path with the core. We stay at the sideline and watch the transmutation of forces at work. Wow! In Enugu and other state capitals, Fulani cattle herdsmen carry weapon A-K47 and the state governments remain blind to see the terror in their mix. The police will disarm villagers while arming the cattle herdsmen. Nigeria we hail thee!!
That Diigbo is a clown. Saro-Wiwa wrote that since Ibos were defeated, Nigeria had become a better place to live and Ogonis applauded him, no be so? He lived in seized Ibo homes in Port Harcourt and continued to preach hatred and lies against Ibos until his northern friends hanged him. He lied about massacre of Ogonis. But he failed to tell his people that Benjamin Adekunle and the Nigerian army who had orders from the north to shoot at everything was responsible for shelling Ogoni homes, forcing them to flee inlands like other Biafran civilians during the siege. These Ogonis have had their share of lying against Ibos. Let them try secession and Ibos will force them back into their paradise of one Nigeria. They must go on with one nigeria!
Apologise for Britain’s role in Biafran war
Responsible department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
After a campaign of murder and persecution against the Igbo people in Nigeria, the state of Biafra attempted to secede from Nigeria. The Government of the United Kingdom provided diplomatic support and was the largest supplier of arms to the Nigerian Government during the Biafran war. Over a million people, mainly Igbos, died during this terrible and unnecessary war. The present day British Government should apologise to the Igbo people for their complicity in the deaths of so many innocent people.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/4662
This Ogoni people are not serious. They should consult LATE KEN SARO-WIWA from his grave, the role he (KEN)played in sabotaging OJUKWUS’ efforts during BIAFRA-NIGERIA war.
Ogoni people were against the people of Biafra and fought alongside Nigeria. I wonder who will support them. I feel sorry for Ogoni people, because it took them more than 40 years, to realise OJUKWU’S vision. Ogoni people would have been better of in Biafra than Nigeria. I wish them well, but no Igbo person will support them.
As a strong believer in self determination, I am in full support of anything any group would wish to do to disengage from the Nigerian contraption. It does not matter what anyone did in the past. I will refuse to cut my nose in order to spite my face. Just like the Ogoni people, I will support the Ijaw also.
If you take away the oil from the Nigerian equation, all the parasitic groups in Nigeria will sit up. They have to go it alone, maybe by sea or over other people’s territories to stop the Delta minorities from leaving.
How much freedom does you people wants Biafra or Igbo have! Igbo like the other major ethnic groups has multiplicity of states for themselves which is the major tunnel for draining national cake. You people are fully represented at the so called national /federal level excerpt not been giving presidency since after civil war for the lack of trust by your other major ethnic partners. If you people have heart then you people should be having sympathy for groups like the Ogonis for their hateful treatment in Nigeria; for what they’re going through since the inception of Nigeria. Their untold massacred during the Biafra war up till date is enough for sympathy, but your blind hate defined you for who you are. How long would this continue before people like you judge beyond hate!
Why is your sight set on Igbos only? Why not Yorubas and Hausas? Is it because the Igbos were defeated by the whole Nigeria including their neighbors as the chief saboteur. The truth is coming out, Adaka boro was killed when Adekunle told him that he would make Rivers a new Yoruba colony and told him that he would carry this secret to his death. Then a massacre happened to hide this secret. Check your history. The fate of Eastern region is still working itself out. How about the quiet Cross-rivers, Urobohs and all the minorities in the river line area, they have stake in Eastern region. The tribes of Plateur State followed the Hausas/Fulani/Yoruba game of elimination in tribal sabotage, what is their fate today? Ojukwu asked everybody to come to the table. He added that after the fight you still have to come to the table so why not start talking. South-south is full of minorities and they must all be represented at the table of Eastern region. Otherwise Igbos will be forced to fight a war of survival they would have fought centuries ago. If you team up me with my enemy do you think that I look the other way, not when you are my neighbor? Jon Lawrence, you are the one I should hit the hardest. Your people did not get the salvation your were looking for without the help of Igbos. Do not let the train pass you station without you. After all Rivers is 100′s of feet bellow the sea level. Thread carefully.
I can not figure out Mr. John Lawrence and his Igbophobia. Igbo people will be fine in any peaceful space inside Nigeria or on our own. We will gladly get visas to come and do business in your country, as long as it is peaceful.
You reserve the right to refuse visas to Igbos and that is fine too. Igbo people live and do business in all African countries that are peaceful.
We do not need any handouts or freebies to survive. That is not who we are. We believe that if you work hard in a free and fair environment, you may not be wealthy but you should at least be able to take care of your family. That is what makes us who we are – Igbo, and nobody should apologize for that.
If ogoni will ever be free BIAFRA will be free first, if they value freedom why did they fight against BIAFRA? Who are they running away from?
@Tari, u and ur Ogonis are in fools paradise. What happened in 1967? The ghost of 1967 will haunt u people forever. U had ur chance n u refused to take it because of ur self hatred. Those that u loved in 1967 will subjugate u for a thousand years
All Diigbo is saying is true and represent the anger of a devastated ethnic group in the Nigeria contraption. But Ogoni people must unite for Nigeria is a dreaded place for their safety, although their suffering in Nigeria is well known and documented all over the world. Ogoni people have had enough and there is nothing that justified them remaining in Nigeria order than the threat of mass murdering by major ethnic groups riding Nigeria to a death end. Ogoni people must leave noise but continued to plan toward finalizing their freedom exit after more than 50years of brutal pains!