The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately address the injustice and marginalisation in Ogoniland, in order to put an end to the neglect of many years.
MOSOP on Thursday in Port Harcourt, through its Publicity Secretary, Fegalo Nsuke, also expressed displeasure over the Federal Government’s inability to commence the clean-up of Ogoniland and the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the environmental assessment of Ogoniland.
It noted that with the August 4, 2011 submission of the UNEP report to the then President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, it was expected that almost seven years after, the actual clean-up of Ogoniland ought to have started, considering the assurances given by President Buhari and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during his last visit to Ogoniland about two years ago.
Ogoni people in the four Local Government Areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme declared that they were not happy over the inaction on the Ogoni clean-up and other recommendations in the UNEP report.
The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people said: “At the inception of the administration of President Buhari, we (Ogoni people) had anticipated some relief for the Ogoni people, not only because the new President had during his campaign in 2015 pledged to ensure the clean-up of Ogoniland and fully implement the recommendations contained in the UNEP report, but we expected that the clean-up would open discussions on crucial issues affecting the Ogoni people, especially the political right to self determination.
“We had hope that President Buhari’s integrity, based on what we had heard about him and his uprightness, would not be compromised. We were actually optimistic of a renewed commitment to resolving the Ogoni problems.
“We were sure that President Buhari was aware that in over 30 years of oil exploration in Ogoniland, an estimated $81 billion had been generated from the area, excluding the huge gas potential of Ogoniland, the revenue from the two seaports, two refineries, a petrochemical complex and two power stations in the area, but Ogoniland has no water, electricity, roads and other social amenities.
“The Ogoni experience clearly shows the injustice in Nigeria. The shame is that rather than address the injustice, the Federal Government of Nigeria is attempting to deceive the world about the true situation in Ogoniland. Today in Ogoniland, some villages bury as many as 13 persons in a week, because of pollution caused by exploration and exploitation of crude oil and gas since 1958.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is not bothered about the pathetic situation in Ogoniland, but still pushing for resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, over 25 years after Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) was sent packing from the area. Nigeria government’s primary interest is the Ogoni oil and not the safety and future of the people.”
MOSOP also stated that it was demanding justice, fairness and equity peacefully and non-violently, while noting that the peace-loving Ogoni people were being pushed to the wall.
It maintained that Ogoni State was not negotiable, stressing that the new state would deliver social equality and justice for the people, thereby allowing Ogoni people to set their priorities and developmental needs.
The umbrella organisation of Ogoni people assured that the determined people of Ogoniland would never surrender to an oppressive Nigerian government.
It will be recalled that the renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists were hanged at the Port Harcourt Prisons on November 10, 1995, during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
