Ogoni Autonomy: Rotimi Amaechi is ignorant - Diigbo

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Published on Tuesday, 07 August 2012 00:08

Written by Elombah.com

MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, has chided the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, over his comments that the declaration of Ogoni sovereignty amounted to treasonable felony. Diigbo’s remark is coming on the heels of a statement credited to Governor Amaechi that the declaration of Ogoni

Autonomy Day by Mr. Goodluck Diigbo last Thursday as a treasonable felony and that "Ogoni autonomy is not achievable."

A statement issued by Associate Editor, MOSOP Media, Tambari Deekor, said Diigbo was not happy with the statement credited to Amaechi that he (Diigbo) was committing treasonable felony by the declaration of Ogoni sovereignty.

Amaechi was quoted to have said: “On Ogoni autonomy, I wish them well. Ogoni autonomy is not achievable. The man (Diigbo) who declared Ogoni autonomy will run into the bush tomorrow morning. What Diigbo is doing is treasonable felony. You do not declare autonomy on the pages of newspapers and magazines or on radio and television.”

Reacting to the statement Diigbo said: “Issues pertaining to indigenous rights cannot be dabbled into by local or regional authorities that may be in conflict with indigenous rights, but rests with consultation with a nation state as Nigeria. We did not take Amaechi is ill-informed and trying to create security problems where they do not exist.

“I think Amaechi needs proper advice on international matters. It is also because of international instruments that citizens who want to live in organised society are able to aspire to self-government, freedom and to organise and subordinate their rights. You cannot pick and chose certain aspects of civilisation and corruptly opt for permittivity as you deem fit.

On Thursday, 2nd of August, Ogoniland declared political autonomy from Nigeria. In a live broadcast on a newly established radio station: Voice of Ogoni, MOSOP.

President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo vowed that:“By this declaration of political autonomy, we, the Ogoni people are determined to enforce the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without fear or retreat”.  

MOSOP leader Diigbo had said by the adoption and approval of a date for political autonomy by the Ogoni people themselves; the Ogoni have reshaped a new future for their nation, children and grandchildren and succeeding generations unborn.

Meanwhile, the Provisional Council of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has distanced itself from the purported declaration of autonomy by Diigbo.

In a statement jointly signed by Chairman of the council, Prof. Ben Naanen, and the Secretary, Dr. Meshach Karanwi, MOSOP said: “MOSOP has received with dismay the purported declaration of “Ogoni Autonomy Day” by Mr. Goodluck Diigbo.

"He had earlier this year falsely claimed that the Ogoni people had voted for autonomy in a referendum. At no time did the Ogoni people take any decision to establish a sovereign nationhood.

“The Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) is clear on the aspiration of Ogoni people in Nigeria. The Ogoni, according to OBR, want adequate representation in all the institutions of the Nigerian state as a matter of right. They want their economic, social and political rights to be protected in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A people aspiring to sovereignty cannot also be asking for representation at the same time.”

However, other groups like the Pro National Conference Organization (PRONACO) and a Yoruba nationalist group, the Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA) has expressed full support for the declaration of autonomy by the Ogoni people.

PRONACO last Friday hailed the declaration of self determination by the Ogoni people of southern Nigeria, and pledged their support, while the Oodua group said every nationality in Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Ogoni declaration and that all nationalities seeking self-determination should begin to assert themselves.

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, on Monday, also also defended the declaration of secession by the Ogoni people and canvassed for the dissolution of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s government to pave the way for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference.

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