OGONI Conservative FORUM

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE OGONI PEOPLE AND NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BY CHIEF MATTHEW ATANGSI MARCUS TORNWE III, ONE OF THE SIGNATORIES TO THE OGONI BILL OF RIGHTS.

To My Beloved Ogoni People and the Government of Nigeria,

At 82 years of age, I write to you, not with bitterness or anger, but with the wisdom of a long life, deeply rooted in the struggles and hopes of our people. I have seen many seasons, seasons of hardship, of pain, of sorrow but also seasons of hope and resilience. Through it all, my heart has remained steadfast in its desire for peace, justice, and prosperity for our land, Ogoniland, and its people.

I remember, with clarity, the day in 1990 when we presented the Ogoni Bill of Rights to the world. It was a declaration of our resolve. Our land, our rivers, and our people had been exploited for far too long. The Ogoni Bill of Rights was not just a political document, it was the voice of our ancestors echoing through the generations. It was the voice of every Ogoni who had felt the heavy hand of injustice, and it was a promise to the generations that would come after us. A promise that we, the Ogoni people, would never accept exploitation, and that we would fight for our right to control our land and its resources. It was about dignity, justice, and a future where our people could live without fear of their land being poisoned or their voices silenced.

In OBR, we introduced the principle of Miidekor, which I proposed, and which remains at the core of our struggle. Miidekor is simple, yet profound. It says that the owners of the land should have the right to control the wealth that comes from it. It is the custom of our people since time immemorial, just as the owner of a palmwine farm receives a share of the harvest from the tapper, so too should we, the Ogoni, share in the wealth that comes from the oil beneath our soil.

I am one of the three remaining signatories to the OBR, out of the original thirty. This is a testament to the sacrifices of those who are no longer with us, among them, Ken Saro-Wiwa, the Ogoni Thirteen, and countless others who gave their lives so that we could stand here today and speak of justice. Their memory is woven into the fabric of our struggle. We must carry their legacy forward, not with anger or bitterness, but with a deep commitment to the values they fought for, values that are not just about the past, but about the future of Ogoniland.

Now, with the government’s recent call for dialogue on the resumption of oil production in our land, we must speak again. But this time, we must speak not as victims, but as partners. We must demand that any such dialogue starts from a place of mutual respect. The resources of Ogoniland are ours, and any conversation about the future of oil production must first address the wrongs that have been done to us over the years. Our rivers poisoned, our land degraded, and our people left to suffer the consequences of this exploitation. The time for lip service has passed; we need action.

The restoration of our environment is not something that can happen overnight. The damage is deep, and the scars of decades of pollution cannot be erased in a day. But I speak with the wisdom of my years when I say that we cannot wait forever for perfection. We cannot wait any longer for the land to be healed. The people of Ogoni are suffering from the toxins that have been left untreated for so long. We need immediate, measurable action. We need the government and the oil companies to take responsibility for the damage they have caused and begin the work of cleaning up the land and water.

At the same time, we must be realistic. We cannot restore Ogoniland to the way it was before the oil companies arrived. That is not possible. But we can begin the long, difficult journey of healing. The government and all stakeholders must act with urgency, transparency, and accountability. The recommendations of the UNEP report must be fully implemented. We do not seek promises; we seek results. We demand that the restoration of our environment be a priority, because it is not just about our land, it is about our dignity.

But environmental restoration alone will not be enough. We must also look to the future of Ogoniland. The wealth beneath our land belongs to us, not just to outsiders. For too long, our resources have been extracted and sold, while we are left to suffer. It is no longer enough for others to profit while we are left in poverty. The Ogoni people deserve control over our resources and the reinvestment of those benefits into our community and the nation. We deserve a fair share of the wealth that has been taken from us. Let us learn from the experiences of other Indigenous communities, such as the Fort McKay First Nations in Canada, who have used their oil wealth to build strong, self-sustaining communities, while maintaining control over their land and culture. We too, must be in control of our destiny. Miidekor calls for equity, for fairness, for the right of the Ogoni people to benefit from the wealth of our land.

I invite the Ogoni Dialogue Committee and other stakeholders to visit Canada, to meet with myself and other Indigenous leaders and chiefs. This will provide an opportunity to learn from the successes of communities that, with the support of their government, have taken control of their resources. Together, we can learn how to manage our resources wisely and ensure that the wealth of Ogoniland benefits our people, not just outsiders.

We must also address the pain of the past. The loss of our leaders, the destruction of our environment, and the marginalization of our people have left deep scars on our community. Our youth, especially, have borne the brunt of this pain. Many have turned to harmful ways of coping, as they struggle to survive in a world that has too often turned its back on them. To heal, we must invest in our youth. We must give them the tools they need to succeed such as education, skills, opportunities, and the chance to one day lead. We must also provide support for their mental health, as they carry the weight of intergenerational trauma. The government can play a critical role in this by empowering the youth of Ogoni to help rebuild our land and society. Government investments in education, technical skills, entrepreneurship, policies that encourage Indigenous participation, and mental health programs are crucial in empowering the Ogoni people, particularly our youth, to rebuild and shape the future of Ogoniland. These investments are the foundation upon which we can restore our dignity, ensure our people thrive, and transform Ogoniland into a self-sustaining and prosperous region for generations to come.

I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership in signing the bill to establish the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni. This is a step in the right direction, showing that there is good faith and a commitment to addressing the needs of the Ogoni people. We must continue to build on this momentum, taking action to ensure that our people benefit from the development of our land, rather than just being the recipients of empty promises.

Finally, I return to the idea of an Ogoni State. This is not a call for separation, but for empowerment. We must have the ability to govern ourselves, to preserve our culture, and to ensure that our resources are used for our benefit. We deserve the right to manage our own affairs and to control our own destiny. We ask for the opportunity to govern ourselves, not for division, but for empowerment.

I urge the Nigerian government to listen to the voices of the Ogoni people. History has shown that when we speak with one voice, in unity and in one spirit, the Almighty listens. This is not just a call for oil, it is a call for justice, dignity, and the restoration of our land and our people. The wealth beneath our land belongs to us, and we must have a seat at the table. We must not be reduced to mere bystanders in the conversation about our future.

I may not live to see the full fruits of this struggle, but I have faith that the generations to come will continue this work. The Ogoni people will rise again. We will build a land that is peaceful, prosperous, and free. I call on all Ogoni people, especially our youth, to hold fast to hope. Our journey is long, but it is not in vain. Together, we will rebuild Ogoniland, returning it to the peace and prosperity our ancestors dreamed of.

Sincerely,

Chief Matthew Atangsi Marcus Tornwe III, JP
A Son of Ogoniland
Signatory to the Ogoni Bill of Rights
Former Special Advisor to the late Ken Saro-Wiwa on Traditional and Cultural Affairs
Founding Member of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)

Today we will be celebrating a man who exemplifies a palpable love for God and humanity, demonstrating through his commitment to Kingdom promotion and philanthropic activities, happy birthday Papa, enjoy your special day now and beyond Sir.

WHY DUM DEKOR AKA MR UNRIPE SHOULDN'T BE RETURNED

1. Embezzlement of fund meant for the construction of a 12 classroom block in Bunu Bangha community.

2. Embezzlement of fund meant for the construction of internal road in Baen community

3. Embezzlement of fund meant for the construction of internal road in Beeri community.

4. Personalization of a federal government agro project meant to be sited in Khana.

5. Mismanagement and personalization of the COVID-19 palliative meant for Khana/Gokana federal constituency.

6. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor insulted all the educated and highly qualified Ogoni elites by publicly stating they are not ripe to be Governor of Rivers state.

These and many more are the crimes of Mr Unripe and the good people of Khana/Gokana must respond to these crimes via the ballot come Saturday April 15th 2023.

Hon Friday Nubari Nkeeh of the SDP is eminently qualified to represent us in the Green Chambar.

Is this man for Ogoni or against Ogoni? Time will tell.