No Going Back on Our Self-Govt, Says Ogoni Farmers

Posted by admin Headlines, Rivers, State News Monday, August 6th, 2012

OGONI farmers on Sunday, rose in stout support of their quest for self-rule, saying they are not prepared
to beat a retreat.

In an online statement to AkanimoReports, they said, ”we expect that the Ogoni Self-Government
can end further attempt to subject Ogoni culture to forced assimilation and destruction of our
means of livelihood without any replacement”.

A native chief in Bori, Chief Samuel Asongho, who is also the President of Ogoni Farmers
Council (OFA) said this.

Ashongo who is equally the Vice President of Ogoni

Traditional Rulers Council, implored their kinsmen to

reject any action which effect will be to deny the

Ogoni people their ”integrity, means of livelihood,

forests, lands, rivers and cultural heritage”.

He said in the statement that was wired to us by

Dum Ade John Budam, the Secretary General of the

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People

(MOSOP), that the Ogoni people did not deserve to

be murdered for speaking out for their own rights.

Continuing, the chief said, ”those who fear that

allowing Ogoni rights will affect theirs, should let

Ogonis know that, instead of murdering innocent

people, as was done to Ken Saro-Wiwa and others.

We don’t want them to shed blood on sacred lands”.

Asongho called on all Ogoni people to continue in

the peaceful manner they have conducted

themselves since the declaration of self-

government, and not allow those ”who have become

slaves and want to remain slaves to tempt or

provoke them into violence”.

The traditional chief dismissed the ongoing

”propaganda” that the Ogoni people are divided,

saying there is always some people who often feel

threatened by change and the common good,

because they are selfish and have no love for their

fellow human beings.

The Ogoni chief spoke after he led a peaceful procession and followed by a customary libation in
support of the declaration of self-government at Ken Saro-Wiwa Peace and Freedom Center.
The procession took him to Birabi Memorial Grammar School (BMGS) in Bori, the traditional
headquarters of the Ogoni.

At BMGS last Thursday, August 2, he paid a glowing tribute to the memory and legacy of Paul
Naakuu Timothy Birabi, the foremost Ogoni political nationalist, and Ken Saro-Wiwa, the founder
of MOSOP, for the pioneering role they played for Ogoni freedom.

Asongho pledged that the Ogoni Farmers Council (OFA) as well as their traditional rulers
council will stand with Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, the MOSOP President, and that they will contribute
whatever they can, to make sure that their self-government works for the benefit of the entire
Ogoni people.
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