Ogoni Struggle Has Been Derailed By Stomach Infrastructure-Prof Ben Naanen

The Ogoni struggle has veered off course moving from a noble agitation for self-determination by an ethnic nationality to one being derailed by personal interests. That was the highlight of one of the side events organized to commemorate the ninth Ogoni Day.
Ogoni personalities, youth and women gathered at the instance of Prof. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, an Ogoni leader and key environmentalist at the Swiss Spirit Hotel, Port Harcourt on Friday, November 10, 2023 to mark the day in commemoration of 28 years of the killing of Ken Saro-wiwa and 12 other Ogoni martyrs sparking serious reflections on the state of affairs in Ogoniland since the inception of the agitation that led to their sacrifice.
Taking the lead, convener of the event, Wai-Ogosu said the day was for rekindling the Ogoni flame ignited by Ken Saro-wiwa in a desire to achieve freedom of expression for his people and invariably, Niger Deltans.
“This day is for the continued burning of the flame of Ogoni fire. The history of the Ogoni struggle is that a people should be free to air their mind. The Day is to honour Ogoni martyrs who exhibited suffrage, courage and candour in what they did.
“We have to be able to keep the candle burning, never to lose sight until Ogonis stand up for what is right and just.
“We are trying to change mindsets, to create the sense that freedom of speech, fundamental human rights and environmental rights agitations started from Ogoni land to other parts of the Niger Delta and is still growing, even to Benue State now,” he said.
The Fellow of the Nigerian Environmental Society, FNES harped on the need to put the youth right. “We need to ensure that the younger generation understands the essence of this struggle and the moment starts here. A group of young Ogonis are being built that can keep the Saro-wiwa dream going. We cannot continue to live under oppression, our forebearers were more courageous,” he added.
He said the forum was for speaking out on issues so the right things should be done.
“We are here to speak our mind, when we speak our mind, we let the world know our stand. What is being done are offshoots of Ken’s struggle. We will continue to be assets to Rivers State people.
“We are here to re-affirm that the Ogoni struggle cannot be killed. Atomic issues will not be allowed to kill the solidarity and unity of Ogonis. We have to rebuild Ogoni unity”.
The respected Ogoni leader called for focus in carrying on the mantle of Ogoni leadership not minding distractions and listed four key figures who should be charged with rekindling the Ogoni leadership as Ledum Mitee, Prof Ben Nannen, Pyagbara Legborsi, who he charged to “come back and give us a better direction and rekindle MOSOP”.
Wai-Ogosu said he is motivated by his love for Ogoni people and has been engaging and consulting with his team, on Ogoni.
“We have engaged primary and secondary schools in the four Ogoni local government areas and will engage all major stakeholders to rekindle and move the Ken Saro-wiwa vision”.
Chairman-of the occasion Prof Ben Naanen a foremost Ogoni leader commended the convener and recalled that 33 years ago when the Ogoni struggle was launched, the situation in the country was not too different from what it is today.
According to him, “In the area of environmental justice, something is being done noting that no process can ever be perfect.
“Something is going on at UNEP with the Ogoni Clean-up. Ogonis are fighting for social justice, resource control, local autonomy, not sovereign nation. Ogonis were asking for a political space that can allow us determine our destiny in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The demand for sovereignty issue was a federal government propaganda sold to the international community. All that Ogonis were asking for was self-determination, local autonomy,” the University of Port Harcourt don stressed.
He said the agitation placed Ogonis on the UN agenda for many years.
“Ogoni remained on the UN agenda until 1999 when civilian government came in. That gave room for the creation of the Special Rapporteur on Ogoni and June 12. About 189 countries were receiving reports on Ogoni from 1993 that caused former president, Olusegun Obasanjo to state that the fear of Ogoni was the beginning of wisdom”.
He then asked, “What has changed? Have we justified the struggle of Ogoni 13 Martyrs?” Prof Naanen lamented that the struggle was no longer a collective vision but has diverted into an individual interest agitation.
“What is happening today? It is very sad that a struggle that was the cynosure of the international community is now a stomach infrastructure body,” he declared.
He said the Nigerian 1999 Constitution legislated 13 per cent derivation for oil producing states for which N2trillio has gone to Niger Delta states whereas the impact is not felt.
According to him, “What is happening in the Niger Delta states/Ogoni struggle was to engender the development of the region, expecting others to follow.”
Assessing if the current social condition of people has improved, the professor said the environmental clean-up of the rest of the region is yet to take-off and stressed that, “the Niger Delta and Ogoni should never relent” in the struggle.
He pointed out that choosing the non-violent struggle for Ogoni agitation made international support possible. “Violence would have attracted mindless killings from the government,” he added.
“Ogonis never fought back violently; it was an intellectual struggle and encouraged campaign around the world. The UNEP project is currently going well”.
Not mincing words, Prof Naanen said the Ogoni political leadership has been found wanting..
“Ogonis are now more marginalized than ever; the political leadership has been found wanting. I had envisaged that MOSOP would remain non-political, make the noise and allow political class buy in to the issues”.
He called for an end to stomach infrastructure.
“The stomach infrastructure must end. We must struggle for the collective gains of Ogonis and the Niger Delta,” he declared.
Royal Father of the Day, HRH Samuel Nee lamented the lack of peace in Ogoniland which has sent many out of the communities.
“How much peace in Ogoni communities? The Ogoni struggle was supposed to bring peace so why is peace absent? It is time to take Ogoni destiny in our hands. Ogoni people under MOSOP won the battle.
“Peace cannot come without the leaders harmonizing interests, working collectively, submerging their interests to promote the people’s interest. Ogoni people are educated but hunger is causing restiveness’
“It is time to think of how to create wealth so that the younger generation will have something to fall back on”.
He called on Ogoni leaders to throw away individual interests and embrace collective leadership;
“Throw away pride, ego; let’s begin to see prospective investors. Let’s go and take the oil ourselves. Stop sleeping. Set up enterprises of our own and pressure the federal government for oil.”
He described the event as a great opportunity and pledged the support of Ogoni traditional rulers for the Ogoni cause.
“Traditional rulers will always try to support an organization interested in going into oil wealth. We say, peace in the kingdom, think of those not comfortable”.
In his comment, former VC of the Rivers State University, Prof B. Fakae who was one of the personalities on the high table, drew the attention of the people beyond oil, calling on the need for adaptation of new skills in line with international job trends especially for the youth
“Who are we beyond oil? It is time to look at ourselves as professionals, skilled people. Ogoni has a wealth of educated people so we should be looking for right skills and merit from Ogonis.
“Attention should shift to, what do you have? What can you do? Not I have not learnt, I have not been taught. For those who feel you have to be in politics to be something, be Ogoni. Look at what we can do as persons to be able compete effectively,” the Ogoni educationist stated
Fakae who, was also a former rector of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, said emphasis should be on promoting merit and grooming young Ogonis to be competitive and harnessing talents, pointing out that his five years stay on the board of KIISI Foundation has focused on merit and the beneficiaries of the scholarship are doing well.
He urged for talent, distinction in industry and self-development for a better future for Ogoni.
“Self-determination is self-driven, invest in those things”, he advised.
The event also featured a discussion panel on, ‘Redefining Environmental Sustainability and Economic and Economic Rebirth: The Way Forward’ and the unveiling of three publications-a book, Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021: A Critique, Pan-Ogoni, International Magazine and Prime Ogoni Magazine.