From Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
Former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has kicked against political marginalisation of Ogoni people by other members of the ethnic group in Rivers State.
This as the Senator Abe had appealed to former Senator Bennett Birabi to treat his fellow Ogonis with respect and avoid going to the public space to tear them down.
Abe, who made the appeal in a statement posted on his official Facebook Page titled: ‘We Are Not Minions’.
He maintained that what Ogoni needs now is goodwill from Rivers people across the spectrum, therefore, ‘our words and actions should promote friendship and love across board, within and outside Ogoni, if we really want the integration of the Ogoni People’.
The Senator stated that the derogatory reference to other Ogonis by one of their own is too painful to ignore and wondered why Senator Birabi will allegedly describe Ogonis who served in the Rivers State Government or support the Governors as “minions”.
He argued that although, the Ogonis are looking for something because they have been marginalised and traumatised in the Politics of Rivers State, ‘we cannot look for something at the cost of our reputation’.
Abe stated: “My attention has been drawn to a public statement issued by Senator Bennett Birabi on the marginalization of the Ogoni people in the politics of Rivers State.
“Due to the reverence position that Senator Birabi holds in Ogoni-land, not just as the son of late Paul Birabi, but also as the oldest living Senator from Ogoni-land, it has been painfully difficult for me to publicly disagree with the Senator.
“It is even more difficult when the main subject of the Senator’s statement is the political marginalization of the Ogoni people, a subject on which all Ogoni people are united and in agreement.
“However, carefully reading through the Senator’s statement, you find some poisonous barbs that are impossible to ignore.
“For example, Senator Birabi in speaking of Governor Wike, said, “nonetheless, there is an undeniable streak of kindness in him also, which is the side of him I am appealing to.
“Will it not be spiritually rewarding to reciprocate the good gesture of “that” Ogoni-man for the Ogoni people? There must be someone amongst HIS MINIONS from Ogoni that he can trust to continue the works he has started”.
