The Implications Of Factionalisation Of MOSOP On The Niger Delta Struggle

Walter Duru

In recent times, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has been in the news over an alleged disagreement on whom the actual and legitimate leader of the Movement is. The two prominent Ogoni sons at the centre of the ensuing drama are the Chairman of the Federal Government Technical Committee on the Niger Delta, Ledum Mitee and a founding member of the Movement, Goodluck Diigbo. Trouble started when a general election which saw to the emergence of Diigbo as leader of MOSOP was allegedly conducted and a controversial inauguration organized, which heralded the reign of Diigbo as leader of the Movement with Ledum Mitee’s ‘men’ dismissing and not believing in same. Consequently, the Goodluck Diigbo’s faction approached the Court, seeking for the sealing of the Ledum Mitee’s factional offices in Port Harcourt and Bori, Ogoni respectively, which was granted. Accordingly, the new MOSOP leadership has requested the Commissioner of Police in the state to implement the court’s order and lock up the offices situated along Olu Obasanjo road and that of 93 Hospital road, Bori. The factional offices are currently being operated by the former President, Ledum Mitee and Mr. Noble Obani –Nwibara. A statement to the Commissioner of police signed by the new MOSOP President, Goodluck Diigbo and made available to Niger Delta Standard said the action was “in view of the circumstances surrounding the hand over process.” Mitee allegedly failed to attend the swearing –in of the newly elected MOSOP leaders. There was also an indication that Mitee who has held the position for about fourteen years is allegedly not willing to hand over power to the new executive. Consequently, the newly elected leadership sought and obtained a court injunction to “restrain Ledum Mitee from swearing –in himself”. Diigbo had told newsmen that the new leadership of the Ogoni Movement would dialogue with Shell, the Federal Government and other Oil Companies doing business in the Ogoni land. He said the time had come for the Ogoni people to discuss their future “and get our lives moving on, rather than remain without any dialogue”. Speaking during an exclusive chat with Niger Delta Standard, Diigbo reiterated his determination to take the people to grater heights through credible leadership, describing his struggle as irreversible. According to him, the Ledum Mitee led administration had long over stayed its tenure of office, having stayed for about fourteen years on the seat as leader of MOSOP. “This struggle is irreversible. We did not fight for some people to come and sit tight. Ledum Mitee wants to be Robert Mugabe of Ogoni. We shall not allow it. We shall mobilize the entire Ogoni people to ensure that this struggle is actualized. The struggle is not between Mittee and i. It is a struggle of the entire Ogoni people. This struggle is irreversible”, he stated. When contacted, a pro- Ledum Mitee youth leader from the area, Des Alonale Laka dismissed Hon. Diigbo’s pledge of credible leadership, describing his election and inauguration as MOSOP leader as illegal, adding that the Movement does not recognize him as its member. “Goodluck just returned to Ogoni after over seven years after our brother Ken Saro Wiwa was killed. While he was away, abroad, he never identified with any of the MOSOP branches or chapters. He never featured on any of the activities of the movement. Ledum Mitee called him to come and work with him in February this year. We saw a result of an election that nobody can tell where it was held. Three weeks ago, he said he was to be sworn in at the Local Government Council Headquarters. The Local Government Council was locked against him. In the evening, he went to a guest house and arranged a clandestine swearing- in. Thereafter, the next week, he was in Court for an injunction for an injunction on Mitee and his executive Council members. That is why we are in Court. I want to say that Goodluck does not belong to any chapter of MOSOP and does pay dues. He is not doing this on his own. He is being sponsored by Shell and that is why he is already calling on Shell to come back. He has a selfish motive”. Anchored on the fore going, it is obvious that all is not well with the leadership of Ogoni. This development is very worrisome and not in the interest of the Niger Delta struggle, considering the position of the area in the history of the Niger Delta struggle. After over thirty five years of oil exploration in Ogoni land, Shell Petroleum Development Commission is yet to take deliberate steps to genuinely develop the area, which is, without prejudice, the key reason for the refusal of the people to allow the Multinational Oil giant resume oil exploration in the area.

Therefore, the timing of this fractionalization is not only dangerous, but regrettable. Ogoni has gone a very long way in this struggle for emancipation and cannot afford to get it Balkanized.

Again, some illustrious sons of the area paid the supreme price for this struggle. The spirit of murdered Ogoni activist and writer, Ken Saro Wiwa must be in tears wherever it is presently. This is sad and must be addressed urgently. Again, Ogoni occupies a very strategic position in the history of the Niger Delta and any confusion in the area shall take its own turn in the balkanization of the struggle.

Urgent steps must therefore be taken by stakeholders to ensure that this situation does not stay. More so, the Constitution of MOSOP stipulates 4-year tenure for every administration. Chief Ledum Mitee, having ruled the people for about fourteen [14] consecutive years should be willing to relinquish power, to enable fresh hands manage the affairs of the people. The people see him as “a sit-tight ruler”. Although, investigations revealed that he is actually willing to hand over but for pressure from some of his supporters. He must therefore, in the interest of his reputation, integrity and change of baton, honourably call Diigbo, as a brother and reconcile his differences. The Courts can only give victory to one of the parties, but cannot restore genuine reconciliation. Elders and elites of Ogoni must therefore wake up to the challenge, eschew every selfishness and prejudice and ensure that unity and peace is restored in the area before the matter gets out of hand. This is one of the primary responsibilities of the duo and they must not fold their arms and allow Ogoni land destroyed. More so, the Rivers state government must realize the need to arrest the political conflict in Ogoni before it degenerates to Crises. If allowed to continue, it could spread to other parts of the state and indeed, the region, which shall have unpleasant consequences.

Governors and leaders of the Niger Delta region should, for the sake of the fallen heroes of the area, peace and stability in the land, as well as the region’s struggle for survival, take urgent steps to resolve the political conflict in the area. Furthermore, he that comes to equity must come with clean hands. Hon. Goodluck Diigbo, must also, as a matter of serendipity, ensures transparency and sincerity of purpose. He must do everything ‘humanly and Godly possible’, to clear the air on the allegation that he is being sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Company to destabilize the area, so as to enable it return to the land. However, only the ‘Almighty’ knows the sincerity of every man’s heart and can judge. But the law of retributive justice is there and makes it impossible for people not to reap whatever they sow. All hands must be on deck. The labour of our past heroes must not be in vain. Now is the time. Let Ogoni be great again.

Walter Duru is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt