UNEP report: Ateke Tom’s kinsmen say he’s Ogoni

Following MOSOP’s strong criticism to the plan by the Presidential Amnesty Programme to use Ateke Tom, an ex-militant and former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), for security during the much expected Ogoniland cleanup, kinsmen of the ex-militant leader, in Bien-Gwarra, Babbe Kingdom of Khana Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, have come out to say he (Ateke Tom) is Ogoni after all.

As a result, the Bien-Gwara people have expressed displeasure with the MOSOP, the Ogoni umbrella body, for describing Ateke as a “non-Ogoni” and thereby rejecting him for the security job of Ogoniland cleanup.

Last week, BusinessDay had reported MOSOP’s criticism of Paul Boroh, the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, for saying the office would use Ateke Tom to execute security in Ogoniland “when the UNEP recommended environmental cleanup exercise begins in the area.”

MOSOP spokesman, Fegalo Nsuke, had in a statement described Ateke as non-Ogoni, and therefore not qualified to be engaged in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) clean-up exercise in Ogoniland, as is being proposed by the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

However, reacting to Nsuke’s statement, the kinsmen of Ateke Tom in Bien-Gwarra community, frowned at MOSOP’s publicity secretary’s claim, insisting that Ateke is a bona fide son of Ogoni; and therefore, absolutely qualified to contribute to the development of Ogoniland.

According to the paramount ruler of Bien-Gwarra, MacDonald Nwiyor; chairman of Gwarra Peace and Development Committee, Okoro Adoo and two others, they explained that the late mother of Ateke, Lekawa Tom, hailed from their kingdom; and in line with their tradition, the ex-militant is Ogoni son.

Nwiyor and others also recalled that in 1991, when Madam Tom died, “all traditional rites were religiously observed in Bien-Gwara for her.”

The Bien-Gwara leaders added that in 2015, when security challenges among rival youths in Khana was at its peak, the community youth leaders in the LGA collectively approached Ateke to intervene.

“He immediately devoted his time, energy and resources for peace to return to his motherland,” the stated.

They community leaders also said Ateke Tom was coronated as “Mene Fiinor of Khana” (the man who separates war),” following his exploits at curtailing the youth restiveness.

The leaders however, demanded that Nsuke, the MOSOP spokesman should “tender an unreserved apology to the Bien-Gwarra community for attempting to damage the integrity and reputation of our son, Ateke.”

They also advised MOSOP, the Ogoni umbrella body to adopt better ways and means to address issues of public importance, especially in a fragile society like Ogoni.

They further advised Nsuke to stop throwing Ogoniland into confusion “by laying frivolous foundation” because of the news of Ogoni cleanup, as he was not the only one to decide on the rules of engagement in the UNEP exercise.