Great Ogoni Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
All protocols observed.

Today marks the genesis of a new dawn in the history of Ogoni students’ struggle against oppression, deprivation, injustice and persecution. This epoch occasion of a democratic election into the executive council of NUOS INTL, USA, shall forever remain in the annals of history for generations. History tells us the various roles students of various nations have played in the liberation struggle. We shall tow the part of history and God willing our people shall be free. First, on behalf of my executive council I’m thankful to all human kind who cares about world peace, justice and equity. We are equally thankful to all attendees of today’s occasion. Our many thanks go to the erstwhile students’ governments for laying a solid foundation on which we shall tread. Above all, our encomium goes to God almighty for his grace and mercy.

By this election, we have again opened a new chapter in the Ogoni Struggle for justice, equity and inclusion in the Nigerian State. All the nations of the world and all of human kind are aware of the danger we as a people and we as Ogonis face in the struggle against corporate greed, deceitfulness, lies, manipulations, bribery and corruption. Ogoni is on the verge of extinction. The world is aware but instead of trying to help save the boat, they have left us to the mercy of the winds and waves. Though abandoned by the very world we held so much trust in, we are comforted by the lyrics: God never abandons the oppressed. We shall overcome the tidal winds and wares and there shall be joy as we arrive at the ocean shores. It may take a little struggle, but surely, we would overcome.

Ogonis, over the past years have repeated the lyrics "Our destiny is in our hands" over a million times. The question then arises, how can we overcome if we do not see ourselves as a community? To build a community, we must respect ourselves. Individualism never works in Ogoni. Can someone tell us why we have so much pride when basic education is unaffordable in a community of about 500,000 people? What pride do we have in the absence of a newspaper, television station, radio station, bank, electricity, running water, health care facilities, post office and good road network? My people, we urge you today to drop your pride because much is expected of us. Remember, the words of Professor Claudius Ake (Of blessed memory), Ogoni is the conscience of the Nigerian nation…. It is time we glue ourselves as a palm bunch to form a community. We want the brave, giants, midgets, disabled, rich and wealthy, poor….To overcome, we, must individually ask why we were born in Ogoni. We must be able to identify our areas of excellence and we must teach our fellows what we know. May we then close this passage with the words of Lech Walesa; a Polish human Rights advocate "Each of us individually does not count much. But together we are the strength of millions who constitute solidarity." Today hence, we call on all Ogoni people to unite against the threat of extermination by corporate giants including Shell Oil Company.

Now to the Nigerian nation, we advocate true federalism where each ethnic nationality would be able to control their resources and pay taxes to the centre. It is only through decentralization that equity could be guaranteed. It is only through true federalism that the slave culture whereby the Yorubas, Hausas, and Ibos each has six States whereas Ogoni has none, could be eliminated. How can we develop alone such oppression? We, as a group this day, hence forth vow to stand up against this culture of slavery and dominance. We hence forth demand a State for Ogoni people in Nigeria. We would no longer accept the slave tag "Minority Tribe." We are bona fide Nigerians. The minority status rubs us of our fortune, our cultural heritage, and our environment and leaves us impoverished and our land polluted. Nigeria should fulfil her social responsibility to Ogoni. Ogonis should henceforth be viewed as citizens of a federal republic and not as chattels. Our civil liberties and Rights must therefore be respected.

On the issue of Shell Oil re-entry into Ogoni, it is our plea to all Shell oil shareholders to speak against such forceful re-entry. Shell Oil remains a persona non grata in Ogoni. Any attempt by this corporate giant to ignore this clear warning, the Ogoni people would rise-up and match peacefully and non-violently against them. We have seen the people’s power in Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Ogoni etc. We must negotiate with Nigeria if Shell oil would ever venture into Ogoni.

May we also use this occasion to address the world community. We pray of you to avert a second genocide in Ogoni. Do not allow a second time, what happened to Ogoni in 1993-96. Enough of bloodshed for Oil. We pray the United Nations to mandate the Nigerian government to create a State for Ogoni, address Ogoni demands in the Ogoni bills of rights (OBR), and exonerate Ken Saro Wiwa of trump-up charges.

Finally, great Ogoni Students and supporters, Shell oil psychological and ecological war on Ogoni people and environment which our great patron – Ken Saro Wiwa spoke about is real. Corporate greed has ignited fears into the body polity of nations. Be confident we shall overcome. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 58:8-12 "….those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations, and you shall be called the repairer of the breach."
Election of executives should not be the end of the role we variously play. We need your co-operations and advice for us to succeed. The battle must be won! ALUTA CONTINUA.

KORNEBARI NWIKE is President of the National Union of Ogoni Students. For contact, send email to: nuos.intl@gmail.com, or leave a voice message on (773) 250 7004