My fellow Ogoni Compatriots

Yesterday, many of us slept last night with mixed feelings as Regards the Appointment of Dr. Tammy Danagogo from the Kalabari extraction as The Secretary to the State Government of Rivers State and Chief Emeka Woke from the Ikwerre extraction as Chief of Staff to the Governor.

Many in the PDP and APC had expressed their disappointment in the Executive Governor of Rivers State-Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike for ignoring an Ethnic Bloc as delicate as the Ogonis who contributed immensely to his second Term pursuit.

Some may say I come from Eleme, So I know nothing about the Ogoni struggle as we have always argued that we are not Ogonis by ancenstral leaning but many of us have decided to be called Ogonis in the “SPIRIT OF BROTHERHOOD”; SO I CAN SPEAK ON OGONI MATTERS BECAUSE THE CRY OF THE MAN IN TAI BECOMES THE GROANING OF AN ELEME MAN.

I AM NOT AN OGONI BY BIRTH BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF ONENESS.

The Recent Appointment of Dr. Tammy Danagogo as The Secretary of state Government and Chief Emeka Woke as Chief of Staff(An office that is the Governor’s prerogative- He can appoint even his own wife, as the office seemingly means Head of all the Governor’s staff and His personal aide to carry out assignments as He may direct). The office of the chief of staff can either be powerful or weak depending on the occupants clout(As in Wike’s case to Amaechi) or How effectively the Governor wants you to perform, while the Secretary to State Government is the Administrative Head of the Government(An office 4 Ogoni sons have occupied in the last 12 years)

This leaves the State with

Governor-Ikwerre(Upland)
Deputy- Kalabari(Riverine)
SSG- Kalabari (Riverine)
COS- Ikwerre(Upland)
Speaker-Obolo(Riverine)
Deputy Speaker-Ekpeye/Orashi(Upland/Riverine)

However, Must we always sound like the less priviledeged and cry every time Matters do not go our way?

Must we forget the Times it favoured us?(This has always been my greatest political consolation).

When the soup been sweet nko?

The Ogonis occupied the following offices

1. SSG- Kenneth Kobani(Gokana)
2. Finance- Fred Kpakol(Gokana)
3. Environment-Rosalind Konya(Khana)
4. Chieftaincy- John Bazia(Tai)
5. Budget and Economic planning- Isaac Kamalu( Finance)
6. Works- Dum Deekor( Works)
7. Rivers State Inland Revenue – ThankGod Adoage Norteh(Gokana)
8. Chairman Governing Council port Harcourt polytechnic- Sen. Lee Meeba(Khana
9. Local Government Civil Service commission- Hon Gregory Nwidam(Khana)
10. Pensions Board Member- Hon. Gideon Deemue (Tai)

And a host of many other boards we have occupied.

In Wike’s first four Years, We held the State. The Economic Nerve was with us.

From Finance(Planning,Generating and Expenditure), Through Special Projects to the main projects(works); We held sway. Nothing really happened without the finger of an Ogoni Man. Today Monday 10th June 2018, An Eleme Man-Barr. Isaac Kamalu may be made Commissioner of Finance after He takes a bow at the Rivers State House of Assembly.

When we reigned,The Kalabaris kept their cool.

Do not abuse a system you have benefited from because Things didn’t go your way(I have been there before,I know the feeling,I have made and learnt from my mistakes too).

Most people have said, We worked more for Wike’s Re-election, So we deserve more. Someone said The votes from Khana alone was more than the Total votes from the whole Kalabari Region of Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru but we must not fail to understand that “While some worked in the day,Others worked at Night”.

Moreover, If you buy Generator for church and You wan come determine How them use the light, The person wey build the church go kuku come ask for Rent nah?

We can not phantom or calculate the magnitude of our Reward in time to come.

Do not throw away the baby and the bathing water. We must not be offended when this delicate Era of the Takeover season just began.

Ogonis must come together like Never before and Unite.

Look at the Movement for The Survival of the Ogoni People(MOSOP), There are 5 factions as we speak.

5 different group of people with hundreds of petitions against each other claiming they have one purpose.

Some weeks back, They did an Election for Chairman of the Independent Marketers Branch(IMB) Of Nupeng Port Harcourt Refinery Branch on Eleme soil, 3 Eleme sons contested and lost to an Ikwerre Man. A process where two would have stepped aside and supported their brother.

In some days to come, There will be another Election, This time for The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association(IPMAN)

Guess what?

5 Eleme sons are contesting for that position thereby scattering the block votes. When the election comes and we finally loose, Whom do we blame?

Buhari,Wike or Ned Nwoko ???

Ogonis must come together and set a plan for a united purpose on our economic,Infrastructural, political and Developmental Blue print.

Does the Ogoni Region have a well thought out Developmental Blue print?

You wanted road, Wike has given you road..What next?

What is our infrastructural plan as a people when at the slightest provocation, Our youths start razing down buildings of successful people?

-Politically

From the little information I gathered, At least 5 people from the Ogoni zone were jostling and lobbying for the position of SSG in this Wike’s second Term. It got to a point that The man became confused.

Could it be that In order not to offend anybody, He took it out of the region entirely because when Brothers fight, Strangers inherit their possessions.

Look at MOSOP, Every faction is loyal to a Leader with their own individual agenda yet We want the region to produce Governor…

When It comes to 2023, 23 Ogoni People will rise up to become Governor. Even people who can not win Family Head Election in their respective families would tell you They have what It takes and It will be taken away from us.

-Economically

Has there been any conscious effort by the Ogoni Leaders to empower her people Economically? How many millionaires did these juicy offices produce amongst our people in the last 4 years?

The Only Ogoni man that made a few people millionaires through His political appointment was Derek Mene of the APC as EDFA in NDDC.

People made profits from the jobs He gave to them and the ones He couldn’t give, He gave seed capital to start up businesses.

There is no conscious effort to build her people.

There is no concious plan for a generational shift. Take your time and list the Ogoni PDP political leaders you know, How many of them who are in their 50’s and 60’s have built a conscious political structure that can stand the test of time because of the trans-generational bridges they have built.

With all due Respect to my leaders but can You see why Barry Mpigi came and took a Senate Ticket from us in less than 1year in the PDP?

See Dr. Tammy Danagogo who is now SSG. From his political Dynasty, You have the following

Hon Rowland Sekibo
Executive Chairman Akuku Toru Local Government Area

Hon. Major Asuah Jack
The Deputy Chief Whip, Rivers State House of Assembly(Former Youth Leader PDP Rivers State)

Dr Onengiye Georgewill
Rector Kenpoly

Hon Christian Sekibo
CDB Chairman

Hon Barr Otonye Briggs
Former SA to Rivers State Government

Hon Torukwein Odimabo
Former CTC Chairman Akulga & Current Youth Leader PDP Rivers State.

Chief Ibiba Georgewill
Sole Administrator Delta Hotels

Amongst others…

Can you keenly observe that When Hon. Major Jack stopped being the PDP Youth Leader in Rivers State, Hon. Torukwein Odimabo from the same political cycle and dynasty took over?

Can you see that There was a well calculated succession plan by their leader?

Following these leaders built by Tammy Danagogo are

Hon. Lolo Isaiah Opuende, Member Representing Akuku Toru Constituency II, Rivers State House of Assembly who recently joined the league of the senior boys.

Dickson Senibo

Sekibo Austin Charles

And Hundreds of others following passionately.

Tammy has successfully managed to build a structure and a bridge with a well orchestrated succession plan.

In the next 4 political dispensations(16 years), He has a lot of young people with his ideals to fill the vaccum when the older Generation leave.

How many of the PDP Ogoni Leaders have this well Orchestrated structure with an organized succession plan?

Oya use your tongue to count your teeth against 2023.

You see this SSG He has been given? You will see How many people who will rise compared to the 12 years Ogonis have held the office.

You will come to see How many people He would give real empowerment.

You will come to see that where others have always been saying “There is no money”, yet them wan die put to remain there, You would see Tammy making it Trickle down.

Morealso, Tammy’s intimidating C.V as LGA Chairman, Commissioner, Minister and Now SSG is “GUBERNATORIAL”.

Everyone knows He is an Excellent Administrator.

Personally for me, I would have nominated a man like Gabriel Pidomson as SSG but The Governor knows better.
We all know HE IS LOYAL…

If We do not put our house in order, He Will replace Wike and we will all bow our heads in Loyalty..

We have 2 years to get organized, Project one Electoral Material that can be accepted by Rivers People and put up a fight in one voice else we would come back on media and cry blue murder.

Could it be that Wike has given The Kalabaris Deputy Governor and SSG, So that The Ogonis can take over from him as Governor?

Well in politics, There are so many unexpected twists and turns. I am not good at postulating conspiracy theories..

Lemme observe and watch.The ball is in our court.

Once Again, Congratulations Dr. Tammy Danagogo and Chief Engr. Emeka Woke.

Thank you Governor Wike for your excellent skill of harnessing potentials.

Okazu Powers
SSG/Commissioner/SSA/SA/CHAIRMAN Designate(Since Everyone wants everything for himself).