Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State, Nigeria:
"Onoge's Death, Setback to Niger Delta Struggle"

Vanguard, Lagos, Nigeria
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.