TEXT OF SPEECH PRESENTED ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2014, THE 19TH - TopicsExpress



          

TEXT OF SPEECH PRESENTED ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2014, THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JUDICIAL MURDER OF OGONI NINE BY MOSOP USA PRESIDENT, MR. DUMKA BAABEL. All people of good conscience: It’s been nineteen painful years since our very best were taken away from us because they stood for justice. As we join the rest of the world to commemorate this day, we are very aware of the fact that the issues for which these Heroes gave their lives have not been addressed. This year is no different from the past 19 years. None of our demands have been granted or negotiated. On the other hand, we have been confronted with new but equally dangerous challenges. The advent of pseudo political contraption called democracy has not in any way helped matters. It worsens the plight of the Ogoni people. We will continue to sound it loud and clear to the Nigerian government, Shell and its collaborators that the spirit of Ogoni people will never be cowed. As each of us reflect on this day,19 years ago, we are constantly reminded of the enormous sacrifice of these courageous men. We will remain eternally grateful for the life of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Comrade John Kpuinen, Nordu Eawo, Baribor Bera, Paul Levura, Felix Nuate, Daniel Gbokoo, Albert Badey, Theophilus Oraga, Samuel Orage and Edward Kobani. These men died that Ogoni may survive. Their memories will continue to be celebrated. A day like this should serve as a wake-up call to all Ogonis, especially those in the Diaspora, particularly in the continental USA, most of whom are here because these men died. The struggle that brought us cannot be relegated to the back burner of our priorities anymore. We have an obligation to step up and do the needful. We have an obligation to come out from our comfort zones and begin to, as the late American president John F. Kennedy sees it, do what you can do for Ogoni, and not what Ogoni can do for you. There are several opportunities in our backyards that could and will benefit our people back home. We cannot continue to sit back and wait for others to do it because no one will do it if we don’t take up the gauntlet. I want to remind us that we cannot continue to be enemies of ourselves as the only enemy we have is Shell and the collaborating government policies that stifle our progress as a people. Each of us must do our bits. There are unclothe children back home who would appreciate a gift of clothes. There are sick children, women and families who cannot afford needed medications. Our people are still drinking from water sources contaminated with benzene, a cancer causing agent. There are no functioning libraries in our childrens schools. The air we breathe in Ogoni is still dangerously polluted. I am using this solemn event to appeal to everyone of us to continue to keep November 10th in memory as we continue to do whatever is doable to materialize the dreams of our fallen heroes. I assure you that MOSOP USA is here to support any and all efforts that will benefit the Ogoni people. Today, we will not fail to remind the world that the UNEP Report submitted over three years ago to the Federal government of Nigeria for implementation remains a subject for which committees are formed one after the other. It is sad to report that monies spent on forming one committee after the other could have advanced the course of implementation of the UNEP report to a reasonable extent. We find it difficult to comprehend why it is difficult to simply implement the UNEP report. We call on the federal government of Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately form the Ogoni Environmental Restoration Authority and impress on Shell and other oil companies complicit in the devastation of the Ogoni environment to release the recommended funds to begin the comprehensive clean-up of the Ogoni environment. The UNEP report is not one of those reports that will be allowed to eternally gather dust on the shelf as the Ogoni people continue to die for oil activities from which we benefit nothing. Ogoni needs adequate political representation in all government institutions. MOSOP USA passionately supports Project 2015. I want to, as an ambassador of the MOSOP faithfuls in the United States of America, appeal to all major political parties in Rivers state to nominate an Ogoni person as partys gubernatorial flag bearer. We cannot continue to accept political marginalization. The death of our very best helped usher-in the democracy Nigeria enjoys today. Yet Ogoni has benefited nothing. This is the time to look the way of Ogoni as we have an endless array of qualified individuals who are qualified to steer the mantle of leadership in Rivers State. I urge all Ogonis at home and in the Diaspora to embrace this project. Anything contrary to this aspiration will amount to betrayal of the Ogoni cause and our struggle for survival. Fellow Ogonis and friends, it is time to stand up for our ideals and do our heroes proud! They left behind a vibrant people. They left behind a liberated people. They left behind a conscious people and an emancipated people. An equally important; they left behind an oppressed people, unfortunately. We cannot let down those thousands who died that we might be liberated. We cannot let down our people or our progeny. Ogoni people, lets rise up and demand what belongs to us. GOD BLESS OGONI GOD BLESS MOSOP USA Dumka Baabel MOSOP USA President.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:43:59 +0000

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