| Urhobo Historical Society |
Governor
Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State, Nigeria:
"Onoge's Death, Setback to Niger Delta Struggle"
Vanguard,
07.12.2009
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole,
has described the death of Prof. Omafume Onoge as a setback to the
struggle for
legitimate self determination in the Niger-Delta.
In a statement at the weekend by the Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor
on Media, Mr. John Mayaki, Oshiomhole, who expressed deep shock over
the death
of the radical sociologist and working class advocate, added that Onoge
was one
of the most consistent critics of the distributive imperfections in the
Nigerian polity.
"The uniqueness of Onoge’s advocacy was in linking the
deprivation of
the
people of the Niger-Delta to the larger Nigerian oppressed humanity.
His approach to the Niger-Delta struggle demonstrated great faith in
constitutional means. His commitment to the struggle for social justice
and
empowerment of the working people was outstanding, " Oshiomhole said.
He recalled that Onoge represented the Pan-Nigerian face of the support
for the
restoration of his governorship. , saying "As Governor, I have enjoyed
his
counsel on governance challenges in Edo State, but also regarding the
role that
we could play as a progressive government in the resolution of the
Niger-Delta
question."
The Governor also recalled Onoge's contribution to the development of
radical
scholarship and in sustaining the university system as a bastion of
resistance
to military dictatorship.