No security in Ogoni land, no 2019 election, say Saro-Wiwa’s associates

The Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates have threatened that the Ogoni people will not participate in the 2019 elections, if there is no adequate security in the area.

The National Coordinator of the group, Chief Gani Tobpa, lamented that the last elections in Ogoni land witnessed high level of insecurity, querying that if everyone dies, who will vote in the contestants.

Tobpa spoke in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State during the Ogoni General Assembly held at the council’s secretariat.

He called on President Muhammad Buhari, Governor Nyesom Wike and all the politicians from Ogoni extraction to come together and work with the security agencies to bring the much desired peace in Ogoni.

He further called for the sack of the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, stating that the Minister has failed to provide ordinary water for the Ogoni people despite the release of  $10 million.

Tobpa said, “nobody can blame President Buhari for the non implementation of Ogoni report because the first money has been released, but it is not being used to achieve the objective. Those in charge kept the money in the bank to be getting interest and also using it to buy houses in London.

“I can assure you, If Buhari sacks the Minister of Environment, UNEP report would be implemented, because every stakeholder is looking at the minister, being the chairman of the council, but sadly, he has failed and the people are disappointed.”

The Coordinator of Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates further raised the alarm over rise in the killing of farmers in Ogoni communities by suspected cultists.

While condemning the act, he urged government and security agencies to mobilise security personnel to the affected areas.

Topba called on the Commissioner of Police in the state to intervene in the development, adding that farming activities is being affected following the sad development.

Topba disclosed that Sii and Gwara communities in Khana Local Government Area of the State are the areas worst hit by the development, adding that the youths involved in the mayhem should be arrested and prosecuted for sanity to return in the area.

“We are calling on police to help save Ogoni women that are being killed while they are going to farm. The commissioner of police should invite the leadership of those two communities, Sii and Gwara, and fish out those killers disturbing farmers.”

“We are worried when we see Ogoni people killing themselves. We must join hands together to stop the killings in our land. As Ogoni people, we will confirm whether the security personnel here are doing their work or not. If they are not we will write that they should transferred.

“Any youth who carries arm should be arrested and prosecuted for Ogoni to have peace. If there is problem in Ogoni and we all run away Shell will resume exploration in the land.”

The assembly also resolved not to allow the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to resume operations in Ogoni after its activities that  led to lost of lives and devastation of the Ogoni environment.