Rivers PDP rejects APC’s proposal for streetlight project on Saro-Wiwa’s tomb
Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the proposal by the state’s Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Okocha, for a solar streetlight project on the tomb of the late Ogoni environmentalist, Kenule Saro-Wiwa.
Okocha, who represents Rivers State in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had while visiting Bane community, the hometown of Saro-Wiwa, proposed a solar streetlight and an access road to the tomb.
However, the PDP in a statement signed on Friday, March 1, by its publicity secretary, Tambari Sydney Gbara, described such a move as insulting and disrespectful to the Ogoni hero and his compatriots, who died for environmental, economic, and social justice.
Sydney-Gbara said if Okocha had meant well for the Ogoni people, he would have called for the return of the Ken Memorial Art Bus seized by the federal government and a declaration absolving Saro-Wiwa of all allegations levelled against him.
He wondered why Tony Okocha wanted to turn the tomb of Saro-Wiwa into a place of jamboree.
He said: “We are sad that Tony Okocha has no respect for the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, that’s why he wants to turn his graveside into a place where people will organise parties and dance on the tomb of the dead.
“This shows his insensitivity to the plight of the Ogoni people and his disrespect not only for the late Ken Saro-Wiwa but also for the entire Ogoni people.”
The PDP advised Okocha to take such projects to his community and site them at the tomb of one of his late kinsmen.
Sydney-Gbara further wondered why Okocha did not propose the establishment of projects that would impact the lives of the people such as modern hospitals, provision of portable water, rural electrification, and the establishment of a University of Environmental Studies or a Research centre in honour of Saro-Wiwa.
He said Okocha should have also suggested the naming of the Headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt after Ken-Saro Wiwa instead of attempting to ridicule the Ogoni hero by making his tomb a place for merriment.
He said: “This proposal of his is wicked, demeaning, and shameful, therefore, the PDP, calls on the federal government to remove Mr. Okocha from the NDDC Board and replace him with a more competent Rivers son, because he has shown that he knows nothing of the office he occupies and has nothing to offer the people.”
