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Ogoni Day Celebration:
HAEDC President Urges Ogonis To Unite
By Polycarp Nwaeke
As the annual Ogoni day is celebrated, Evangelist Gloria
Tornwini Theophilus, the founder/president, HIV/AIDs Education &
Development Centre (HAEDC), Bori has called on the Ogonis to
unite for collective and decisive actions concerning the welfare
of all Ogonis.
Tornwini who made this call in a release she sent to National
Network on the Ogoni day celebration said the Ogonis should
remember that their struggle is holistically for the common good
of all people, young and old, adding that the tune of their
commitment toward Ogoni struggle will decide their fate now and
that of future generation.
She prayed that all Ogonis demonstrate true love for one another
and be their brothers and sisters keepers for a stable and
prosperous future grounded in unity, while calling on all true
blooded Ogoni to turn their heart to God and preserve the
inalienable rights of their fellow man and woman, as according
to her, what affects one affects all.
The HAEDC president called on the Ogonis to speak with one
voice, as there is irrevocable strength in numbers grounded in
Agape love, stressing that the Ogonis cannot move forward
fighting and killing each other.
“We cannot truly unite until we lay down our weapons of
destruction, hate and discontent toward each other. For the
Ogoni struggle to be truly honoured and Uncle Ken Saro Wiwa's
progressive vision realized in this generation and generation to
come, we must embrace unity grounded in forgiveness, letting go
of grudges and unnecessary ill feelings toward each other. Our
oneness must be universal to achieve Ogoni struggle intended
goals for all Ogonis, as three-string cord cannot be easily
broken,” said Gloria who has shown much concern to the Ogoni
cause.
Stressing that the Ogoni struggle must be God-led as it is not
against flesh and blood, Theophilus called on Ogonis to put
their differences aside and work together sacrificially for the
development and collective benefit of all Ogonis home and
abroad.
She warned that posterity would not forgive them if they fail
individually or collectively to do the right thing and forget to
remember that blood was shed for the struggle.
As the Ogoni day is celebrated, the HAEDC president reminded the
Ogonis to remember that HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest threat to
present day Ogoni struggle as men and women, young and old,
educated and uneducated in their immediate community are badly
affected and dying in great numbers from AIDS.
“As we celebrate Ogoni day, I want all Ogoni to know that
HIV/AIDS is real and has become one of the silent assassins in
our community today. Ogoni people must realize that it is only
the living and stable in health that can actively fight for a
cause and carry on Uncle Ken Saro Wiwa's vision for a better
society for all. We must stay alive to continue the Ogoni
struggle for the common good and HIV/AIDS is a real threat. If
we continue to ignore the warning about this pandemic we will
have no one to blame but ourselves,” she cautioned.
She said the Ogonis must realize that AIDS related death is
affecting families and economic growth due to loss of
productivity, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Evangelist Tornwini appealed to the able and dynamic Governor of
Rivers State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to ensure that
consistent care and support are given to people living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), adding that he must not allow any of the
HIV/AIDS ART Clinics be closed without alternative to adequate
access to anti retroviral drugs, care and support for PLWHA as
was the case in Bori General Hospital Clinic in December, 2011.
She warned that HIV/AIDS must be taken seriously and advised
that people should be proactive and go for testing insisting
that early diagnosis is the key for better management and
healthier life in Ogoni or elsewhere.
“We must desist from behavious that put us or others at risk of
this preventable disease. Let Ogoni day be a day of sober
reflections, a day we all think of how could all move together,
brain storm and implement valuable empowering programmes for our
men, women, children and youth and thus preserve our dignity as
a people God created strategically as change agents in such a
time as this for good of all.###
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