Ogoni Plans Devt Centre To Mark Leader’s 90th Posthumous Birthday

The people of Ogoni in Rivers State are set to unveil a leadership development centre, to mark the 90th posthumous birthday celebration of one of their leaders, Chief Albert Badey.

Badey was one of the Ogoni leaders who lost their lives during a gruesome incident that occurred at Giokoo community in Gokana local government area in 1994.

Already, a central working committee, headed by a retired permanent secretary, Mr. John Nally, has been set up to handle the unveiling of the centre, which will be known as the Albert Badey Center for Development, (ABCD).

Addressing members of the committee yesterday in Port Harcourt, son of the late Ogoni leader, Mr Suage Badey said he was an active pro-development leader, who impacted Ogoniland selflessly, adding: “If my father were to be alive today, he would had been 90 years this month.

“We will not grief forever, we will not mourn forever, we therefore want to build something in the society in his memory and honour.”

Recall that late Albert Badey had served the state as a Permanent Secretary, as a Head of Service, as a Secretary to State Government, as a Commissioner, under various administrations and worked in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well.

He is credited for influencing a lot of projects to Ogoniland, including the citing of the first Rivers State Polytechnic at the defunct Regina Caeli Teachers Training College campus, which is now named Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori.