Ogoni Youths Reject MOSOP Leadership

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 22.03.2008

Ogoni Youths have rejected the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), saying it has set the people back in development issues.

Describing the leadership style of the president of MOSOP, Ledum Mitee, as old-fashioned and not focused on progress, the National President of the Ogoni Youths Council (OYC), who is also the National Vice-President of National Youths Council of Nigeria, Marvin Yobana, who said this in an interview with the Saturday Tribune, further added that MOSOP leadership had used gimmicks to hold people for too long.

According to Yobana, the Ogoni agitation, which had been acclaimed world-wide as one of the most mature and co-ordinated, ought to have left the realm of foul-crying which MOSOP still uses as tool for currying international sympathy, for more serious issues of development and progress of the people.

He said, “We ought to have gone beyond that. Those propaganda were employed during the military era to put off the military from Ogoniland. The international community assisted us.

“What I am saying in effect is this: the Ogoni case is a success in the Niger Delta, but we cannot cry more than the bereaved. When you over-flog an issue, you lose sympathy.

“The Ogoni struggle is a good struggle, but it’s losing momentum.“ Speaking further, the youth leader queried the lack of internal democracy in the MOSOP as a vocal socio-cultural organisation, asking why one man should rule the body without end.

“We are set to liberate the youths of Ogoniland and we must move beyond where we are. Interview the president of MOSOP and ask him these basic questions: what is the agenda for MOSOP? What is the tenure of MOSOP leadership? Is it for life? What has MOSOP been able to attract to the Ogoni people since his tenure began?” He queried.