By Emma Arubi , Warri
THE ban on the production of local gin popularly called “Ogogoro” by the Federal Government following reported death resulting from its consumption by some persons across some states has come under heavy attack by some activist from the Niger Delta region who stated that the fight against the ban would be their last struggle.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Independent in Warri on the said ban on what used to be called illicit gin during the colonial period, Comrade Stin Kene from Okwagbe community said after the government has forcefully taken our oil and gas resources they would fight this current ban on Ogogoro production with their last.
Comrade Kene insisted that like other adulterated alcoholic beverages that abound in the country, adulteration of Ogogoro should not be seen as something that is new and therefore should be banned, insisting that government should take all necessary steps to regulate its production as in the case of other alcoholic drinks produced throughout the country.
He stated that fighting the production of Ogogoro amounts to fighting the people of the region as it were once again as in the case of illegal refineries where the government has not succeeded to a large extent, saying that it creates legitimate employment for thousands of unemployed youths of the region.
“Government wants to fight us again in the name banning the production of our local drink. Let them go ahead, we shall see how far they can go. Have they been able to fight corruption in high and low places?
Does petrol explosion not kill thousands and we are still producing and using it daily. Does adulterated water not kill also and we produce and drink it daily. Do they know how much energy goes into the production of Ogogoro?
It is not like sitting in one air-conditioned office and stealing billions of naira with biro and killing millions of Nigerians through hunger and unwarranted hardship occasioned by the mindless looting of our treasury. We shall fight this ban with the last drop of our blood”, he stated.
A petroleum tanker driver at Shaguolo, Warri, Mr. Ben Edukugho on his part said “Ogogoro is our ancestral drink and nobody should bother to say they have banned it because that is what we use to keep our selves alive around this area and can never abandon it for any reason. Cars of all make kill people every day and yet we drive them, so what is so special if Ogogoro kills some people, he queried.
Ogogoro is produced in abundant in the deep creeks areas of the Niger Delta region and consumed by countless number of Nigerians and foreigners alike throughout the country and beyond.
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