The Paramount Ruler of the Baroko Community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Kadilo Kaabari, has said the people of Ogoni are marginalised like modern-day political slaves in the state.
Kaabari stated this when a socio-cultural political group known as Sor Ogoni visited him at his palace on Wednesday.
Kaabari expressed sadness that nobody from the two key Ogoni LGs namely Gokana and Khana has been appointed as a commissioner in the incumbent administration of Governor Siminilayi Fubara.
He called on the leadership of the apex Ogoni socio-cultural group, KAGOTE to wake up from their slumber and agitate for the rights of their people.
The monarch stated, “Imagine we the Ogoni people that even the colonial masters could not conquer are now seen as modern-day political slaves with no voice due to the antics of some politicians who I prefer to call ‘belleticians’.
“Imagine that up till now Khana and Gokana has no Commissioner in the Rivers State Executive Council. We cannot see Julius Berger doing internal roads in any part of Ogoni land.”
He alleged that the palace of a prominent Ogoni king was being desecrated in the full glare while Ogoni leaders, especially those in elective positions did nothing.
Mene Kaabari said, “We even as a Chairman, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Giniwa and his tool desecrated with no one taking.
“Where is KAGOTE, KAGOTE of old? Where is MOSOP? Where are the so-called elected representatives? From this ancient throne of my ancestors, I assure you, Ogoni shall rise again.”
He further said his predecessor, Mene Barikura Kabari, who before his death was also a former executive chairman of Gokana LGA would always be remembered for his role in the struggle for political emancipation of the Ogoni people.
According to him, “Though few of them still exist, Chief Dr. Barikura Kabari represents what I may call the last crop of patriotic fearless, and selfless leaders of the Ogoni ethnic extraction.
“He was not just a former Gokana council chairman, but also a renowned medical doctor and educated Paramount Ruler who died standing to be counted in the struggle for our political emancipation as a people as against the kind of leaders we have today.”
On his part, the National Coordinator of Sor Ogoni, Elder Jude Nwiko, said the visit was aimed at remembering the late Mene Barikura Kabari whose contribution towards the Ogoni political struggle is now a legacy that will stand the taste of time.
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