Douglas Ibunge, Port Harcourt
A group, Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA) has resolved to ban any political party or persons sponsoring electoral violence in Ogoniland.
This as the indigenous group has noted that there was no loss of life in Ogoniland during the February 25 and March 18, 2023 elections.
Recalled that the group ahead of the general elections, protesting the loss of about 300 of their loved ones in the past polls, declared non-participation in the 2023 elections in Rivers state.
But in a meeting on Tuesday with “General Assembly of Political Party Leaders in Ogoniland”, Dr Goodluck Diigbo, President of OCIA, said unlike in the past elections, Ogoni people recorded no loss of life in the just concluded elections in the area.
Dr Diigbo who spoke online from United States of America (USA) at the meeting held in Teyork, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers, explained that the aim of the gathering was to “build upon February-March 2023 bloodshed deterrence initiative to preserve peaceful electoral process in Ogoniland.
“Before the 2023 general elections, there was violence by political parties, but we set up group to ensure there is peace in the area.
“We continue to follow events, tendencies, and trends, including conflicts, failures, threats and misused opportunities in Nigeria; mindful
of our sacred duty to practice and revitalize our customs and traditions. As we nurture our self-government; its laws and indigenous institutions to ultimately
bring peace and justice to Ogoniland.”
The Ogoniland spanning through four LGA of Rivers (Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai) have suffered years of environmental degradation. The indigenes also alleged political marginalisation by the government.
During the meeting, members also deliberated on their roles in the control and conduct of all elections, at the local, state and Nigeria at large.
At the end of the deliberation, the group however, resolved to ban any political party or persons who sponsors electoral violence in the area, as part of steps to ensure no loss of life during elections in future in Ogoniland. Other resolutions from the meeting include: “
That any political party that handpicks and imposes a candidate on theelectorate stands banned in Ogoniland.Results of all partisan and general elections held in Ogoniland must beannounced at the local polling booths where such elections are scheduledto take place”.
Regretting their findings in the last Local Government Council election conducted by Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) which according to them was rigged against the will of the people, OCIA urged that going forward participation in the Nigerian general and partisan elections is optional in Ogoniland.
