COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF OGONI LEADERS MEETING AT SAKPENWA, TAI LOVAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON MONDAY 22ND APRIL 2019
We the leaders of Ogoni comprising Elders, Political Office holders, Elected Representatives of the people, Traditional Rulers, Chiefs, Religious leaders, community leaders, women and youth groups met at a Congress of the OGONI People held on Monday the 22nd day of April 2019 at Sakpenwa the headquarters of Tai Local Government Area. At the end of which the following resolutions were passed :
1. We expressed gratitude to all the leaders for their show of unity and cooperation in attending this crucial Congress to discuss the pressing issues of security of lives and property in Ogoniland, even at very short notice;
2. Having reviewed the current deteriorating security situation in Ogoniland, we express profound sadness over and wholeheartedly condemn the spate of killings,cases of cult wars and other criminal activities in parts of Ogoni especially in Khana Local Government Area that has created a deep sense of insecurity;
3. We hereby warn all those involved in such activities to put an end to such activities forthwith and surrender their arms and all instruments of violence and subject themselves to traditional oaths in their respective communities within 14 days;
4. At the expiration of the 14 days any person who fails to abide by the decision should be declared an enemy of the people and treated as such;
5. We are resolved that Traditional and Community leaders including Youth leaders who harbour these criminals or host their camp or fail to administer the Traditional oaths on their subjects or fail to expose the identities of perpetrators of these crimes would not only be deposed but treated as accomplices;
6. A dedicated telephone number would be created and publicized for each Local Government Area for people to send credible even if anonymous actionable information on any threats to security in their area;
7. We also resolve to send a high powered delegation of the Ogoni leadership to urgently meet with the Government to seek their necessary support to drive the peace process, and in particular, with a view to setting up a Special Task Force to track down and appropriately deal with any person that further engages in such nefarious activities;
8. We further resolve to convene a meeting with all youth leaders and youth groups to get their buy in and perspectives and thereafter another Congress in no distant future to reappraise the situation as well as addressing other issues affecting our people;
9. We urge all our people to be vigilant and join the new spirit of unity of purpose being ushered into Ogoni and to this end, appeal to our people against making public statements capable of causing disunity.
DATED AT SAKPENWA THIS 22ND DAY OF APRIL 2019
10. HIS MAJESTY, KING G.N.K. GININWA OFR, JP ( Gbenemene, Tai)
11. SEN. (DR.) BENNETT BIRABI
12. CHIEF KENNETH KOBANI JP ( SSG, RIVERS STATE)
13. SEN. MAGNUS N. ABE
14. LEDUM MITEE
15. HRH GODWIN BEBE OKPABI ( Oyale, Eleme)
16. RT REV. DR. SOLOMON S. GBEREGBARA
17. R. ADMIRAL J.N. BAKPO ( Rtd.)
18. CHIEF PRISCILLA VIKUE
19. DR. PETER MEDEE
20. RT. HON. DUMNAMENE DEKOR.
