Support for the new leadership of the Movement For The Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, is swelling, an indication that MOSOP may have been out of the life support machine and now on the path of revival.
Family members of the slain Ogoni 9, including the family of the late activist and freedom fighter, Ken Saro-Wiwa, have indicated the readiness to help MOSOP find its feet again. But the support will only be sustained under one condition: the leadership headed by Prof Olu Anda Wai-Osogu must continually work in the interest of the Ogoni people.
A statement by the spokesman of MOSOP, Imeabe Saviour Oscar quoted the leader of the Ogoni 9 families, Mr. Yira Wiwa as saying during a visit to the MOSOP leadership, that they would continue to support the new MOSOP team so long as they continue to speak for the development of Ogoni and defends Ogoni interest.
Yira Wiwa who is the younger brother of Ken Saro-Wiwa called on Ogonis to unite and support the new leadership of MOSOP.
“We are here in the office of the MOSOP President to pledge solidarity with him, to support his administration and to let him know that the Ogoni 9 Families are with him.
“Prior to this time we had series of mushroom presidents of MOSOP, but for him to have emerged as the MOSOP President at this time gladdens our heart and we have come to identify with him,” he said.
“This is a better time for the Ogoni people to rally round him, so as one of the stakeholders in the Ogoni struggle, we have come here to support him and as long as he speaks Ogoni, he speaks for the development of Ogoni and he defends Ogoni interest, we’ll always be with him,” he stated.
Responding, Wai-Ogosu vowed to carry members of the families along in his leadership of the body.
He said his leadership has been doing a lot to uplift the spirit of Ogonis towards achieving what the martyrs died for.
“From my own background, I’m not new to the martyrs’ family, I have been part of what the martyrs started. I personally as an Ogoni son felt the same way thousands of people felt, not just the nine, not just the four but the over 2000 that also died in course of the vision because every Ogoni person is supposed to feel the passing away of an entire generation and that’s why some of us are still trying to achieve the ideals they fought and died for.
“We are doing a lot of things to motivate the Ogoni people to say that MOSOP cannot die, to sensitize the people to talk with one voice.
“I’m happy with the coming of the families and also looking out for the the family of the other twenty that were left in the prison after the death of the Ogoni nine,” he said.
Wai-Oguso added: “When I see the faces of our people, I see misery, I see loss of hope and even on your faces, it’s still showing; so I want to plead that God in his infinite mercies knows the best so therefore count yourself living as the sacrifice you have made for Ogoni to be able to stand and heal the wounds in your hearts so that all of you will become symbols of Ogoni unity.
“We will do as much as we can to identify with the families in order to heal their wounds. Anytime we call on you please answer our calls because we’ll like to be working with you and whatever we do as an executive, we’ll carry you all along”.
