Ogoni Leader Calls for Equitable Federal Appointments Across All Local Government Areas

By Edet Ekpo, Port Harcourt

A prominent son of Ogoni in Rivers State, Joe Korka-Waadah, has urged the federal government to ensure equal representation of the four Ogoni local government areas—Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme—in federal appointments.

Korka-Waadah, the Executive Director of the Compassionate Heart Foundation of Canada, commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing some Ogoni indigenes to strategic positions.

However, he emphasized that the appointments have been heavily skewed toward one LGA, with Gokana reportedly taking all the slots.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Korka-Waadah stated, “Ogoni consists of four local government areas: Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme. Yet, federal appointments meant for Ogoni people have been concentrated in Gokana. 

While the appointees are all qualified, it is important that opportunities are shared fairly across all LGAs for equity and justice.”

He suggested that a prominent politician in the state may have influenced the nomination of his associates, contributing to the imbalance.

Nevertheless, Korka-Waadah clarified that he is not calling for the removal of the current appointees, acknowledging their qualifications.

Highlighting the issue of fairness, he added, “Positions related to petroleum exploration have all gone to Gokana, leaving Khana, Tai, and Eleme without representation. 

This unequal distribution does not reflect the democratic principles our country stands for. We are only asking that appointments be distributed evenly so that all Ogoni communities can benefit.”

Korka-Waadah also called for the full exoneration of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, eight other Ogonis, and other community members who were executed decades ago under controversial circumstances. 

He stressed that justice for these individuals is a critical prerequisite for the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

“The people are not opposing federal presence or oil exploration,” he said. “But it must be conditional on implementing the Ogoni Bill of Rights and exonerating those unjustly executed. 

This is the foundation for a fair and sustainable relationship with the federal government.”

The Ogoni leader’s appeal underscores growing calls for fairness, transparency, and justice in the allocation of federal positions and resource management in Nigeria’s oil-rich communities.