Society urges FG to co-opt eminent Ogonis into search for peace in Ogoniland

The President, Society for Better Nigeria (SBN), Mr Livingstone Wechie, has urged the Federal Government to consider co-opting eminent people like ex-agitator, Chief Solomon Ndigbara, in the search for lasting peace in Ogoniland.

Wechie made the call on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with our reporter on the way forward for the restoration of harmony and order in that troubled kingdom.

He said that stakeholders like Solomon Ndigbara, a prominent Ogonis son, had all that was required to quell youth restiveness and other vices if fully co-opted into the search for peace in the kingdom.

The SBN president, who described Ndigbara as a man of the people, said he had overwhelming control of youths in that area which was an advantage to the effort.

“Chief Solomon Ndigbara has full control of the youths in Ogoni and as such would assist in making peace to reign.

“This is a man who was the first ex-agitator to lay down arms during the amnesty era, signifying willingness for peace and respect for the law,’’ Wechie siaid.

He noted that engaging Ndigbara would go a long way to make Ogoni people to truly feel the impact of the Federal Government.

According to him, some political cabals in Ogoni have blackmailed the Federal Government with their actions and utterances.

Wechie said that the cabals had undermined the achievements of the Buhari-led administration in Ogoniland thereby causing disaffection on the people.

“People like Ndigbara ought to be given opportunity to truly re-orientate his people on what the Federal Government is doing for them,’’ he said.

Chief Solomon Ndigbara, an ex-agitator was hitherto declared wanted by Nigerian Army after being accused of gun running in 2016.

Wechie had also in 2016 petitioned the House of Representatives against the invasion of Ogoniland by the army and declaring Ndigbara wanted for the alleged offence.

The Ogoni Kingdom whose people are known the Ogonis are one of the many indigenous peoples in the region of South-East Nigeria.

They number about 1.5 million people and live in a 404-square-mile (1,050 km2) homeland which they also refer to as Ogoni, or Ogoniland.

They share common oil-related environmental problems with the Ijaw people of Niger Delta.

The Ogoni rose to international attention after a massive public protest campaign against Shell Oil, led by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).