MOSIEND disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in celebration of an iconic Ijaw activist and founding president, Elder Timi Kaiser-Wilhelm Ogoriba.
The statement, which was signed by the group’s president, Dr. Kennedy West described Ogoriba as one of the consequential figures whose courage and commitment helped shape the Ijaw struggle and the historic agitation that culminated in the Kaiama Declaration.
It stated that Ogoriba’s relevance transcends the office he once occupied, describing him as a teacher, mentor, statesman and enduring symbol of the struggle for the dignity, rights and future of the Ijaw people and the wider Niger Delta.
The statement reads in part, “The story of resource ownership and justice in Nigeria cannot be properly told without acknowledging the sacrifices of those who stood at the forefront of the struggle when speaking for Ijaw self-determination came with considerable personal and political risks.
“Elder Ogoriba is more than a leader. He is a teacher, mentor and statesman whose life has been defined by courage and an unwavering commitment to the dignity, rights and future of the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta.”
MOSIEND maintained that the challenges which inspired the struggles of the Kaiama generation have not disappeared completely. Rather, they have evolved into contemporary questions around resource ownership, fiscal federalism, environmental justice, derivation, community participation and the right of resource-bearing communities to benefit substantially from the wealth generated from their land and waters.
The organisation therefore said Ogoriba’s birthday should not merely be viewed as a celebration of longevity, but also as an opportunity for a new generation to reflect on the unfinished business of the Niger Delta struggle.
The statement noted that the sacrifices of the pioneers must not be allowed to become historical memories without translating them into tangible improvements in the lives of the people for whom they fought.
It called for sustained advocacy for a federal structure that guarantees greater economic justice, stronger participation of host communities and meaningful ownership and control of the resources upon which the Nigerian economy has depended for decades.
