…Says, Work On East-West Road Marred By Bickering, Gossip, Falsehood
The umbrella body of all socio-cultural groups in Ogoni, KAGOTE has praised the Council Chairmen of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas for their efforts towards the peace, security and overall development of Ogoni land.
Speaking at the first general assembly of the group recently held in Gwara, Khana Local Government Area, President of KAGOTE, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwiika Deeyah said their efforts in working closely with the Council Chairmen to secure and sustain some level of peace and security in their councils, had paid off.
While reeling out its achievements within the period of his assumption as KAGOTE President, Deeyah commended the Chairmen for having good, listening ears, and lauded them for prudent management of resources at their disposal.
“We have, within the period of our inception and the election/swearing-in of these Chairmen, visited the Councils to share our thoughts, listen to them and used the opportunity to see firsthand what they have been able to put in place in the various LGAs. Again, we commend them, we are really impressed”, Deeyah said.
He said the group had embarked on the construction of an edifice it called ‘KAGOTE HOUSE’, but that the project suffered a setback, and vandalized by people suspected to come from Wiiyakara.
“I made an effort to reach a prominent Ogoni son of Wiiyakara extraction who once held a high political office. His response wasn’t anything to write home about. If anything, he expressed sympathy or tacit support to those who vandalized the project”, he said.
On the Cleanup of Ogoni land, the KAGOTE leader stated that not much has been done due to the high turnover of the Supervising Ministers, adding: “We hope and pray that the present Minister would be allowed to run the project to the end of this Administration”.
The KAGOTE leader also explained the efforts made by the group regarding the deplorable state of the East-West Road. “We wrote to Mr. President requesting for an audience and this led to the visit of Ogoni leaders to the President last year.
“All our requests on that visit were approved by the President, the very first of its kind, to my mind this was unprecedented but, unfortunately, the usual bickering, gossip and outright falsehoods among us made it impossible for a follow up”.
