The Ogoni model of political protest and engagement is being held up as a model for all in Nigeria’s restless River Delta region.

Below is an article published by The Tide Online:

A former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Amadi, has urged agitators in the Niger Delta area to emulate the style adopted by the Ogoni people in their struggle for their rights. Amadi, who represented Obio/Akpor Constituency II, in the old Rivers State House of Assembly on the platform of the SDP, told our reporter in Port Harcourt that the Ogoni people were now reaping the fruits of their struggle because of their approach to it.

“We are appealing to all those involved in violent acts and other social vices in the name of the Niger Delta struggle to please emulate the Ogoni style in fighting for our rights. Hostage taking and kidnappings will only worsen things for us,” he said.

“I doff my hat for the Ogoni leadership because of the unique style used in fighting for their rights. Though, it did cost them a lot, but they are the winners today,” Amadi added.

The former Lawmaker said that potential investors were being scared from the Niger Delta because of the numerous cases of hostage taking and kidnapping and that under such situation, no reasonable businessman would come to the region. “It is most unfortunate that these things are happening in our state. But the truth is that our boys are very enterprising and hard working, but need to be encouraged,” he stressed.

He said that since Ogoni people embraced peace and dialogue, the area had remained peaceful and that investors and non governmental organisations would like to identify with people in that kind of environment.

“What we are witnessing in the Niger Delta is no more struggle for our rights, but criminality. It is true that we are not happy, but we should not allow criminality to take over. The consequences of what we are doing to ourselves now will certainly outweigh that which we have been crying for in the time past,” Amadi said