Date Published: 05/06/09

Re: Fresh leadership crisis rocks Ogoni, as group warns trouble makers?

Those who feels it's proper to wake up one morning and form a "group" that will frivolously write on the overdue regime in MOSOP, I ask you, is 14 dark years not enough? Is Mitee a fly who will not leave sweet or dead things but follow them anywhere? Messrs. Dumka Babbel and Michael Mpopkorko purporting to have formed "INTERFOP" should stop faking messages such as this. It isn't authentic and can't be called a propaganda, rather a disinformation. Ogonis have learnt so much to be bamboozled with cheap trick as this. Messages such as this could only be associated with Ledum Mitee's character. It's therefore not strange to see his clan's men act this shallow and insidiously. If this non existing group wish to seek apology on behalf of Ogoni, the first to render such apology is Mitee, the man few of them work hard to protect though unsolicited. He should first tell Ogoni and the world what happened to the Ogoni 9 and how he escaped, then apologize because there is no excuse that will exonerate him. If you're asking for accountability or stewardship, the first should be Mitee as well. But because they''re hypocrites or the hypocrites are even better than them, so wouldn't dare the truth.

What pleasure they get from concoctions such as this? The content of the mail is enough to show that the man they're protecting has overstayed his terms even when he wasn't elected by a Steering Committee from the onset as this message purports. Three people who are today silent on Mitee's derailing behavior were lured and coerced by Mitee to adopt him as the Acting President after he surreptitiously escaped the hangman's noose in 1995. Then he made himself into the shoes of the president; shoes he initially claimed were too big for him to wear. As time went by we learnt he changed or amended the MOSOP Constitution for his whims. Consequently, he stayed in office without any collective, but personal and family interest and success for about 14 years. The exception is the so-called freedom center he already took millions from government to complete but wasn't completed when I asked my nephew to take a picture of it and send to me in Jan.

It's a shame that these guys with big Bibles, Babbel, Mpopkokor and others not mentioned, who woke up overnight to form a non sequitur group live in America and see what democracy has achieved (even though not perfect and wouldn't be) yet continue to tow the lines reminiscent of pre-stone age. I wonder what they would have done if still in Nigeria! Based on the claim that the whole or all Ogonis stood to elect Mitee, where and when did that happen if this message should be credited with any iota of truth? Mitee has always operated like the Ogoni cultural group with mask "Lokpo" or Gim-zim that is usually displayed at night for people not to see those involved, etc. Are you guys telling the world that Ogonis are stupid and don't know what democracy means to have allowed or voted an individual whose credibility is shady to lead them for 14 dark years? What excuse does a so-called "MOSOP leader" has not to be part of a lifetime lawsuit-claiming damages for the wrongful death, etc., of those (and other Ogonis) he claims to have been in jail with and championing what they died for?-that is going to trial May 26 to be precise. No one could serve better as principal witness than him because he was the Deputy President of MOSOP who was "lucky" enough, if we should say so to be discharged and acquitted. But he isn't part of this historic trial because his hands are stained. This stain automatically disqualifies him from being MOSOP President. Therefore, not minding how many poorly done jobs posted by this group and many others that may emerge, the will of Ogoni will prevail if Goodluck Diigbo is the new choice unless its people aren't ready for the truth and to be free. The person who has overstayed in office without proper mandate (because he hate democracy) and his blind and inconsequential supporters are the troublemakers. They should be warned to give peace a chance for Ogoni has suffered much humiliation and needs some succor.

Ben Wuloo Ikari, (bariedoora@cs.com).