… Blasts FG on East-West road

From: TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has declared its support for the restructuring of the country,  insisting that fiscal federalism is the solution for the plethora of issues troubling the nation.

It also flayed the Federal Government for demonstrating insensitivity to the deplorable condition of the Akpajo Eleme axis of the East West road, saying that  it showed government did not care for the people of Rivers State.

MOSOP President,  Legborsi Pyagbara,  stated this, on Monday,  in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital,  while speaking on the state of the nation,  noting that the level of marginalization in the country was worrisome and should be addressed.

Pyagbara said though MOSOP had condemned the quit notice  by Arewa youths to South Easterners living in the North and Biafra calls for secession, there was need for restructuring the country as well as resource ownership.

He warned that failure of Federal Government to address the lingering agitations across the country, could plunge the nation into unavoidable consequences.

He said: “Several issues are currently buffeting the Nigeria-nation state and require immediate response for Nigeria to avoid our descent into anarchy and disintegration.

“MOSOP has been concerned about recent events in the country which have the ominous potential of triggering national disintegration if not speedily addressed. First is the issue of resurgent Biafra separatism and second, a counter Arewa intolerance expressed in the ultimatum to all Igbo to leave the North.

“MOSOP categorically and irrevocably rejects the two extremes, none of which will improve the miserable condition of the people who the antagonists are claiming to represent.

“Most countries of the world finding themselves in similar situations like us have had to look inwards and search for solutions that are adaptable to their environments and meets the needs of the various centrifugal forces that make up the country.

“For the Nigerian state to survive, it must be seen to demonstrate equity, justice and fairness by creating political space for the sub-national entities to develop at their own space, while ensuring protection for national minorities and Indigenous communities.

“The Ogoni Bill of Rights, which is the basis of the Ogoni struggle, emphasises local autonomy for the Ogoni people and other Nigerian communities that are threatened by internal colonialism,”  Pyagbara stated.

On East-West road,  the group declared: “MOSOP  totally condemns the neglect of East-West road,  especially Akpajo Eleme axis,  which,  of course, is now impassable.  This is condemnable and unacceptable.

“This level of neglect goes along to show why restructuring this nation is very important.  We are holding Federal Government and Rivers State Government responsible for the condition of the road.  It clearly shows that they do not care for our people”.

The group decried the rate of insecurity in Ogoniland and urged Federal and State governments to intensify efforts to tackle the menace in the area.

He appealed: “We are calling on the government to increase  security presence in Ogoni by providing more police stations, adequate equipment and police personnel to the Ogoni area

“The government and peoples of Nigeria must rise up to redeem the country from the various contradictions that are currently facing the country. The time to act is now”.

MOSOP further  expressed dissatisfaction with Federal Government’s response to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on the clean-up of Ogoniland,  pointing out that the process was slow.

“Whilst we appreciate federal government’s efforts so far to implement the UNEP Report of the Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland, we are deeply concerned about the slow pace of the implementation of the report.

“We had expected the Federal Government to match its words with actions by showing a greater commitment to mobilising the needed resources from its own side including that of the joint venture partners to ensure that enough resources are made available for the implementation of the report”.