An Ogoni group, based in the United States, Ogoni Community Development Network (OCDN) has called on Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to halt frequent assault on the MOSOP Secretariat by the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Bariere Thomas. In a statement to Ogoni news signed by the organisation’s president, Johnson Kuele, OCDN said the actions of the Khana council boss could hurt the good reputation of the Rivers State Governor. The group said it will meet in April to decide further peaceful actions that may be necessary should the attack on sister organisation, MOSOP persist.
The Statement reads in full:
The Statement reads in full:
The attention of Ogoni Community Development Network (OCDN) has been drawn to reports of frequent incursion and attacks on the MOSOP Secretariat lands by political tugs attached to the chairman of Khana local government area, Bariere Thomas. According to eye witness reports, the secretariat has been invaded by armed youths with threats to secretariat staff this morning.
The OCDN wishes to register its displeasure over these unfortunate cases of repeated attacks on the Secretariat of the leading organisation in Ogoni, MOSOP, on the orders of Bariere Thomas and will warn the chairman of Khana local government area, Bariere Thomas not to create any crises in Ogoni or act in ways that threatens the peace with attendant damaging effects on the reputation of the executive governor of Rivers State, His excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike whose recent efforts at ending air pollution and wipe the area of illegal oil refining has been commendable.
OCDN further condemn the role of the Khana local government council in cracking down on civil rights organisations and institutions, especially MOSOP, which has continued unabated right from the early 1990s. Khana local government council was an instrument in the hands of the former Rivers State governor, Dauda Musa Komo during the repressive years leading to the 1995 execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others and had directly aided the torture, detention and several other crimes which led to the death of over 4,000 others.
While we watch the events very closely, we urge the governor of Rivers State, Nysesom Ezenwo Wike to show his intolerance for rascals who lead local councils under his jurisdiction by calling on Bariere Thomas to desist from actions that can cause a breach of the peace in Ogoni and put the integrity and reputation of his administration to question.
The OCDN will make this issue a top agenda at our next general congress in Kpaa, Khana local government area in April and will decide what peaceful approaches may be necessary should the harassment of our brothers and sisters in MOSOP continue.
