The Greater Ogonis in Diaspora Organization (GODO) has strongly condemned a statement allegedly made by the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), claiming that Ogonis were not invited to a recent program because oil is not being drilled in Ogoniland.
This egregious comment has sparked outrage and indignation among the Ogoni people, who have been historically marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes in Niger Delta and Nigeria.
GODO, an organization fighting for the political rights of the Ogoni people, has issued an ultimatum to the NDDC MD, demanding a retraction of the statement and a reserved apology to the Ogoni people within two weeks. Failure to comply will result in swift and decisive action, including legal proceedings at the international court and petitions to all embassies worldwide, seeking a ban on the MD’s international travels and diplomatic engagements.
In a strongly worded statement, GODO’s President, Chief Ambrose Kii, denounced the NDDC MD’s comments as “insensitive, divisive, and a stark reminder of the systemic marginalization of the Ogoni people.” Chief Kii emphasized that the Ogoni people have made immense sacrifices to save the Niger Delta region from economic, political, and environmental strangulation, and such statements only serve to undermine their contributions and perpetuate their suffering.
“The Ogoni people have been at the forefront of the struggle for environmental justice and political rights in the Niger Delta,” Chief Kii said. “For the NDDC MD to claim that they were not invited to a program because oil is not being drilled in Ogoniland is not only false but also a slap in the face of the Ogoni people. We demand an immediate apology and retraction of this statement. We will not be silenced or ignored any longer.”
GODO has vowed to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that the rights and dignity of the Ogoni people are respected and protected. The organization has also called on the federal government to intervene in the matter and ensure that the NDDC MD takes responsibility for his actions.
“The NDDC MD’s statement is a stark reminder of the systemic injustice and marginalization faced by the Ogoni people,”
“We will not stand idly by while our people are continually disenfranchised and disrespected. We demand justice, and we demand it now. We will mobilize our people, our resources, and our international partners to ensure that our rights are respected and our dignity is restored.”
GODO has also called on the international community to take notice of the systemic injustice faced by the Ogoni people and to support their struggle for political rights and environmental justice.
“We urge the international community to hold the Nigerian government and its agencies accountable for their actions,” Chief Kii said. “We demand that our rights be respected, and our dignity be restored. We will not be silenced or ignored any longer,” he stated.
