New Rivers at one: Fulfilling the Ogoni pledge


(Nigeria) By Simeon Nwakaudu
 
The campaigns leading to the 2015 general election were thorough and tortuous.  One of the key deciding grounds in Rivers State  was Ogoni  land. The reason is not far-fetched. The  Ogoni Ethnic Nationality forms a major power block  in the state.

Therefore,  all political  interest groups moved over to Ogoni land  to sell their programmes  to the people. This came on the heels of the fact that the then outgoing  administration  had conned the Ogoni  people, pledging to accommodate  them politically, without doing so.  In all of the political  engagements the issue  of  credibility  cropped up.
Smarting  from the  extreme political  deceit  of the then outgoing  administration,  the Ogoni people  needed a trustworthy  politician and statesman  to invest their votes in.
The political godson of the then outgoing failed leader presented himself  as someone who lived amongst  the  Ogoni people  and  schooled in their midst. According  to  him,  this would make  him  different  from  his political  godfather. The Ogoni  people  were not deceived. They rejected him and his political  party because  they knew nothing would change.
The Ogoni people  unanimously endorsed  and accepted  the  candidature of Nyesom Wike.  This was done after the governor's deep-rooted  consultations with Ogoni  stakeholders  came up with  key pledges that his administration will  accomplish upon election.  This was at the Grand Rally in Bori.
The most prominent  of the pledges was the governor’s  acceptance  that he would dualise  the Sakpenwa-Bori Road. He also pledged to ensure that Ogoni  people  play prominent  roles in  his administration.
As an apostle  of pro-people  politics  and leadership, Governor Wike has lived up to his pledges. He has taken proactive  steps to develop  Ogoni land  and improve  the  stand of living  of the people.
For over three decades,  the Ogoni people  were denied  access to  a safe road to their traditional  home-lands  as the Sakpenwa-Bori Road  degenerated into a notorious  death trap which claimed the  lives of the people  on a daily  basis. It was on this premise that the Sakpenwa-Bori Road  became  a source  of  persistent  political  deceit.
Politicians  used  road to gain  political  capital,  claiming  that  they would  dualise the strategic  road. The immediate  past  administration  was  the worst culprit. Therefore,  when Governor Wike  made the pledge that he would dualise  the  Sakpenwa-Bori Road if elected, most people  thought it was  yet another political  promise not to be  fulfilled.

On Thursday, 26th May, 2016, Governor  Wike  made good his pledge. He took concrete steps to  actualize the dream of  the  Ogoni people.  He flagged off the dualization  of  the  Sakpenwa-Bori Road.
The road cuts across Tai, Gokana and Khana  Local Government Areas of Ogoni land.  It also links  communities  of Andoni  and Opobo-Nkoro and Akwa Ibom State.
The joy of the Ogoni  people  and their neighbours  knew nothing bounds. They put aside political  differences  and rolled  out  the drums to celebrate  Governor Wike’s  commitment  to  their development.
Governor  Wike  declared that he will complete  the  road in record time  because  of  its importance.
Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara praised Governor Wike  for living up to his promise, saying the governor  has by his action served the interest  of  all Ogoni people, irrespective  of  their political  differences and affiliations.
Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King GNA Giniwa commended the Governor for his work in Ogoni land.  He said  the  dualization  of the Sakpenwa-Bori Road and the key appointments extended to Ogoni  people  in Wike’s  administration  are praiseworthy.
Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon Kenneth Kobani said the commencement of the construction of the road is a dream come true for Ogoni people.
Former Member of the House of Representatives, Dum Dekor  declared  that  by Governor  Wike’s  investments in Ogoni land, he will continue  to  enjoy  the  support  of  the  people.
In addition  to  the  dualization  of  the  Sakpenwa-Bori Road, Governor Wike  has started the phased total rehabilitation  of  the Birabi Memorial Grammar School, BMGS,  Bori,  which is one of the most prominent  public  schools in the area.
The governor  further announced  that  the  Gokana-Bodo road will be reconstructed  to open up other Ogoni communities.

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