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. . . Presents Peace Awards
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) led by Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel has installed two prominent Ogoni kings, Mene Samuel Nnee, the Gbenemene Tai Kingdom and Mene Solomon Ndigbara, the Mene Bua Bori as its Grand Patrons.
The apex Ogoni youth group also bestowed Award of Distinguish Service for Leadership and Unity and Distinguished Service for Peace and Development in Ogoniland on the two monarchs.
President of NYCOP, Barinuazor Emmanuel while installing them as Grand Patrons and decorating them with the respective awards at their palaces in Kpite Tai and Bori in Khana Local Government Areas of Rivers State respectively, said it was in recognition of their sterling qualities and leadership roles in the development of Ogoniland.
He said the body looked through its records and found them worthy of the awards and patronship.
Speaking at Nnee’s palace in Kpite Barinuazor said; “We are honouring you because of the role you are playing to ensure peace in MOSOP because without peace in MOSOP there will be no peace in NYCOP.
”We also see the role you are playing to ensure that the youths are on the same page.
”Since 1995 after the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa, we have been like orphans having nowhere to run to and this is the only palace that has welcomed us. So we deem it fit today to honour you as our grand patron”.
On the choice of Ndigbara, the Ogoni youth leader stated that the youths recognised his contributions to the Ogoni struggle and for standing as a pillar of support for the council.
”We looked at your struggle from the days of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Without you NYCOP won’t have survived till now. After looking at our records, we thought it right to honour those who have contributed to the struggle and fought for the development of Niger Delta and we decided to honour our own with this award”.
In their separate responses, the two reverred Ogoni monarchs thanked the youth group for the award and promised to continue to partner them for the overall benefit of Ogoniland.
Nnee said: “For this honour you have done me, I accept it and I will try my best to stand with you in the performance of my role as a grand patron.”
He vowed to continue to fight for the liberation of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) from the hands of persons who feel entitled to it.
”So you have some persons who tend to ascribe to themselves that sense of entitlement that’s why we are having problems”.
” All of us have MOSOP and that’s why I can stand anyday anytime to challenge anybody who wants to make it his inheritance. You have people who have been leading in times past and want to still see it as an inheritance of their fathers. If they are not there MOSOP should die. That informed my decision to see that MOSOP must not die, ” he added.
Ndigbara on his part acknowledged that NYCOP remains the voice of Ogoni youths, and assured them of his readiness to work with them.
