The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People has called on the families of slain Ogoni leaders to embrace total peace and reconciliation.
MOSOP said that although the wounds created by the tragic killing of four Ogoni chiefs in 1994 and the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his kinsmen in 1995 are yet to heal, the Ogoni people should draw lessons from the losses.
MOSOP President, Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, stated this on Thursday at a news briefing marking the 32nd anniversary of the killing of the Ogoni four in Giokoo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wai-Ogosu said, “This press briefing is commemorative of a tragic and pensive event that occurred in Ogoni precisely on the 21st of May 1994, in which Ogoni lost four of its most legendary and celebrated leaders, leading to a twist of fate that is yet to abate in Ogoni land.
“Recall that the killing of four prominent Ogoni leaders, Chief Albert Tombari Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Theophilus Orage, and Chief Samuel Orage on the said unfortunate date, led to the eventual decimation of the echelon of the Ogoni elitist class, amounting to a whopping leadership gap in Ogoni.
“While the families of both the four slain prominent leaders and the nine MOSOP activists counted their individual losses, the entire Ogoni nation counted the greatest loss.
“Till today, the wound of these huge losses is yet to heal, but there is a need for our people to learn from the sad lessons of the past and pick up the gauntlet to rebuild Ogoni.”
The MOSOP President lamented that lingering divisions and unforgiveness among the people had continued to affect the unity and development of Ogoniland, stressing that reconciliation had become imperative.
“Ogoni is in dire need of reconciliation and rejuvenation of the old order of organised communal growth that defined our heritage.
“Never in our chequered history has there been a need for genuine reconciliation and reinvigoration of the ideals of peace and uniformity of purpose towards achieving the objectives of our legendary struggle, which centres on the imperatives of justice,” he said.
Wai-Ogosu warned that sustained disagreements and bitterness among families and groups in Ogoniland could further deepen the crisis and weaken the collective aspirations of the people.
“The consequence of malice and unforgiveness is another generational retribution that will take time to heal.
“It’s time to redefine our collective bond, talent, innovation, practical intelligence and humanity. Any festering disagreement will plunge us further into the abyss of abasement and make us the butt of the caustic and cynical delights of our traducers,” the MOSOP boss stated.
He, therefore, urged all sons and daughters of Ogoni, especially families directly affected by the 1994 crisis and subsequent executions, to embrace forgiveness and work towards rebuilding trust and unity.
“As we mark the solemn 32nd remembrance of the death of four prominent Ogoni sons and leaders, I am using this opportunity to call on the families of the heroes of our struggle, and all sons and daughters of Ogoni, to embrace total peace and reconciliation,” Wai-Ogosu said.
He particularly praised the late Badey family for what he described as a courageous demonstration of forgiveness and patriotism in the interest of peace.
“I particularly commend the bold step taken by the Badey family, led by Suage Badey, for demonstrating a high sense of resilience, forgiveness and patriotism to let go of the ugly events and trends of the past and promote peace and reconciliation in Ogoni.
“The Badey example is needed at every stratum of our lives as a people to chart the path of enduring peace and development in Ogoni,” he added.
Wai-Ogosu reaffirmed MOSOP’s commitment to promoting peace, justice and reconciliation in Ogoniland, saying: “The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People under my leadership is poised to pursue the ideals of peace and reconciliation in Ogoni with due diligence and sense of responsibility.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, as part of renewed efforts to restart crude oil exploration in Ogoniland, granted a posthumous presidential pardon to the Ogoni Nine and has also moved toward broader reconciliation initiatives aimed at addressing long-standing grievances in the Niger Delta.
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