MOSOP new leadership garners more support

…As Ogoni 9 families pledge solidarity

By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

Family members of the eight Ogoni heroes who were murdered alongside Ken Saro-Wiwa in November 10, 1995, otherwise known as the Ogoni 9 have pledged their support for the newly elected leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), led by Professor Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu.

The family members made the pledge during a courtesy visit to the office of the President of MOSOP in Port Harcourt.

Leader of the Ogoni 9 Families, Mr. Yira Wiwa who spoke on behalf of the families, said they will continue to support the new MOSOP leadership so long as they continue to speak for the development of Ogoni land and defend Ogoni interest. Mr Yira Wiwa who is the younger brother of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa called on Ogonis to unite and support the new leadership of MOSOP.

“We are here in the office of the MOSOP President to pledge solidarity with him, to support his administration and to let him know that the Ogoni 9 Families are with him.

“Prior to this time we had a series of mushroom presidents of MOSOP, but for him to have emerged as the MOSOP President at this time gladdens our hearts and we have come to identify with him,” he said.

“This is a better time for the Ogoni people to rally round him, so as one of the stakeholders in the Ogoni struggle, we have come here to support him and as long as he speaks Ogoni, he speaks for the development of Ogoni and he defends Ogoni interest, we’ll always be with him,” he stated.

Responding,  the President of MOSOP, Prof Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu vowed to carry members of the families along in his leadership of the body.

He said his leadership has been doing a lot to uplift the spirit of the Ogonis towards achieving what the martyrs died for.

“From my own background, I’m not new to the martyrs’ family, I have been part of what the martyrs started. I personally as an Ogoni son felt the same way thousands of people felt, not just the nine, not just the four but the over 2,000 that also died in the course of the vision, because every Ogoni person is supposed to feel the passing away of an entire generation and that’s why some of us are still trying to achieve the ideals they fought and died for.

“We are doing a lot of things to motivate the Ogoni people to say that MOSOP cannot die, to sensitise the people to talk with one voice.

“I’m happy with the coming of the families and also looking out for the families of the other twenty that were left in the prison after the death of the Ogoni nine,” he said.

Wai-Oguso added, “When I see the faces of our people, I see misery, I see loss of hope and even on your faces, it’s still showing; so I want to plead that God in his infinite mercies knows the best, therefore count yourself living as the sacrifice you have made for Ogoni to be able to stand and heal the wounds in your hearts so that all of you will become symbols of Ogoni unity.

“We will do as much as we can to identify with the families in order to heal their wounds. Anytime we call on you, please answer our calls because we’ll like to be working with you and whatever we do as an executive, we’ll carry you all along,” the MOSOP President posited.

On his part the Publicity Secretary of MOSOP, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar expressed gratitude for the visit of the Ogoni 9 families and called on all stakeholders across board to support the new leadership of MOSOP.

“MOSOP is indeed grateful for this particular visit and we are happy that stakeholders like you have come to identify with us and  we are very grateful indeed.

”MOSOP is actually achieving its lost glory and we promise that this current leadership will not disappoint Ogoni people and we’ll continue to call on all well-meaning Ogonis and stakeholders across board to put their hands on deck and work collectively for the betterment of Ogoniland,” he said.