By Ola Kay
Former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyagbara, has warned that oil production will not resume in Ogoniland in Rivers state until matters bothering on political marginalization and exclusion of the Ogoni people are addressed.
Pyagbara made the remarks during a media parley with journalists in Port Harcourt, posted on the Facebook page of the Ogoni Youth Federation on Tuesday where he alleged that the political establishment in Rivers State failed to consider Ogoni people in the state’s top leadership positions despite their contributions to the state and the Nigerian economy.
The environmental rights advocate, who is also Executive Director of the African Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development, revealed that the Ogoni ethnic nationality people would not accept a situation where they remain politically excluded while their natural resources continue to be blessings to others.
“There cannot be any oil resumption in Ogoniland if the issue of Ogoni political interest is not addressed,” he stressed.
“You cannot like our oil and refuse to like our political representation. You cannot talk about taking oil when you feel we cannot be politically included in the political space.”
Pyagbara argued that Ogoni people, as one of the major ethnic nationalities in Rivers State, should not continue to play subordinate political roles in the state.
“We cannot be in Rivers State and remain servants in Rivers State. We cannot be a major ethnic group and remain political servants to others,” he said.
The former MOSOP leader also cautioned against what he described as the emergence of political domination by a single ethnic bloc in Rivers state, saying that ethnic nationalities in the state must be given equal opportunity as stakeholders.
He said:“All ethnic persons in this state are equal citizens. We cannot build a hegemony of one ethnic community above the other, and one person cannot assume himself to be the political overlord of Rivers State. That is not acceptable.”
Pyagbara maintained that the demand for political inclusion and equity remains non-negotiable for the Ogoni people. He stressed that any attempt to resume oil exploration without addressing the people’s concerns will amount to injustice and continued oppression.
According to him, Ogoni people are becoming increasingly politically conscious and would no longer allow themselves to be used merely as electoral tools during elections.
He called on politicians of Ogoni extraction not to pursue personal ambitions at the expense of the collective interest of the people.
Also, he stated that he and other stakeholders would support any political platform willing to back the emergence of an Ogoni governor in Rivers State, regardless of party affiliation.
“If other political parties feel Ogoni cannot produce the governor, then we have no alternative than to throw our support behind whoever is willing to support that aspiration,” he said.
“I will use all that I have to provide support to that person, whether we win or lose. We must make a statement through that, ” he concluded.
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