Elder statesman and prominent Ogoni leader, Chief Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, has refuted authoring a letter published in the Saturday Vanguard on April 5, 2025, which falsely attributed his name and signature to a communication directed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released to the press on Thursday, Wai-Ogosu clarified that he did not authorize the letter, nor did he sign it, emphasizing that the signature appearing in the publication is not his.
Wai-Ogosu expressed his embarrassment over the misrepresentation, stating that it was a deliberate act aimed at misleading both the President and the public.
He asserted that he only became aware of the letter when it was published and vehemently denied any association with its content or the individuals claiming to represent the Eleme ethnic nationality.
In his statement, the Ogoni leader demanded immediate action from the authors of the letter, calling for a public disclaimer of his name and signature.
He also urged Vanguard Media Limited, the publisher of the Saturday Vanguard, to issue an apology in their publication within ten working days, citing the damage to his reputation and integrity.
Furthermore, Wai-Ogosu requested that all individuals who signed the disputed letter also provide a written apology in a visible section of both the Vanguard and The Tide newspapers.
Wai-Ogosu’s call for accountability underscores the importance of ethical communication and the potential consequences of misrepresentation in public discourse. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the involved parties will respond to Wai-Ogosu’s demands, and what implications this incident will have for community representation and leadership within the four Local Government Councils in Ogoni Kingdom
