The National Union of Ogoni Students – USA had an emergency meeting over the weekend deliberating on the state and faith of the Ogoni nation considering the forth coming elections in Mosop, both in Nigeria and in USA.
These elections wouldn’t have come at any better time than now, since we need good and credible leaders to address the UNEP report and other issues affecting the Ogoni people.
For over 16 years, our dear Movement has suffered tremendously in the hands of some egocentric persons, particularly Ledum Mitee, ever since Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged. The upshot of the emergence of Mr. Goodluck Diigbo is a tale yet to be told. We did understand his motives and subsequently avoided him as much as we could. The result of his quest for power speaks for itself today; he is not different from Ledum Mitee by any stretch of imaginations. The victims in all these remain the Ogoni people whose futures remain bleak. Consequently, their lack of accountability, transparency, corrupt practices and lack of purposeful leadership will be resolved after this coming election. We encourage all Ogoni sons and daughters to embrace this exercise considering that the rest of the world is not static and we have a lot of “catch-up” to do.
While NUOS praises the decision of the CWC MOSOP USA for opening the election to every sons and daughters, we seriously condemn the arrogant decision to alienate State Chapter’s. We are calling on their successors to recognize this grand rule in subsequent elections so as to usher in fairness to those who are daily keeping the candles burning in different states.
In a recent publication by CWC, Ogoni-Americans were harshly directed to avoid rudeness and embarrassment to Hon. Magnus Abe. We are appalled by this instruction considering that we are non-violent people who reserve our rights to free speech and associations. NUOS believe Hon. Abe is capable of taking impromptu questions in a political town hall meeting. We hope CWC rescinds this decision and respects our rights as Ogoni-Americans.
Although the electoral committee overseeing the elections into offices in Nigeria was set up by Mr. Mitee, we are calling on them to practice fairness as we shall exposed and resist any attempt to impose any replica of Mr. Mitee on Ogoni. We strongly urge the committee to allow all sons and daughters of Ogoni descend to participate in the electoral process freely devoid of thuggery influence. We are also using this opportunity to advice Mr. Diigbo to take advantage of the poll with others if he is interested in leadership and let Ogoni congress decides; and eschew all forms of action that will delay or hamper our needed programs after the elections in Nigeria.
NUOS, USA is committed to fighting any selective nomination from Ledum Mitee to enthrone himself, any member of his family or his close associates as rumor swayed.
We wish every contestant in any of these elections the best of luck. We have a lot of work to do and NUOS shall work with all fairly elected Officers to actualize the dream of Ken Saro-Wiwa for all Ogonis.