The Ogoni Youth Development Initiative (OYDI), has strongly condemned the recent statements made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, mocking former Governor Rotimi Amaechi for nominating an Ogoni governorship candidate on the platform of the African Democratic Party (ADC), after his departure from active power.
In a press release signed by its Global President, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, the group described the remarks as an insult to the political aspirations, dignity, and collective intelligence of the entire Ogoni ethnic nationality.
It advised Wike to stop laughing at the Ogoni people, stating that political power is transient, but the soul and destiny of a nation outlive any individual’s political era.
“It is deeply ironic and hypocritical for Nyesom Wike to laugh at the political calculations of others regarding the Ogoni governorship slot”, the Ogoni youths group lamented.
It stated, “While we frown at such, we must remind the former governor of his own track records:
”Throughout his eight years as governor, he completely ignored the qualified and capable sons and daughters of Ogoni for the state’s highest office.
”Even while dictating political tickets across multiple parties loyal to him during his transition, he actively denied the Ogoni people the opportunity to lead Rivers State. Today all the political parties loyal to him even in his coalition, none has an Ogoniman as chairman or flag-bearer.
”He weaponised the political loyalty of the Ogoni people and demographic strength for his gain, only to discard their aspirations when it mattered most. Despite the number of Ogoni elites loyal to Nyesom Wike from his time as governor and now as Minister, he went over Ogoni the first time to Opobo and brought the current governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara. Now again, he has snubbed all Ogonis in his camp and went to Obio/Akpor to bring his brother as governorship candidate. In fact, three of the major parties in his faction such as APC, Labour Party and PDP have Obio/Akpor and PHALGA candidates as flag-bearers of the party all to satisfy his personal interest. How else can one quantify such greed ?
” He must remember that the God of justice who watches over the Ogoni land does not sleep. The very political structures he boasts of today can dissolve tomorrow, and the god of Ogoni will have the final laugh”
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The group, therefore, demanded an immediate apology from the minister.
”Nyesom Wike should publicly tender an unreserved apology to the Ogoni nation for this unprovoked mockery.
”He must immediately stop using the political destiny of Ogoniland as a punchline or a tool for settling personal political scores each time he grabs the microphone.
”Rivers State belongs to all its constituent parts and ethnic groups, and no single individual has the right to treat the Ogoni people as second-class citizens in their own state.
“The Ogoni people are peace-loving, resourceful, and politically mature. We will no longer tolerate condescending remarks from leaders who used our resources to build their empires only to turn around and mock our legitimate aspirations. Let Nyesom Wike and his co-travelllers be warned’.
