Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, including the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has handed the Federal Government conditions for the people of Ogoni to allow resumption of oil exploration in their area just as the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State have hailed the Federal Government for commencing the implementation of grounds proposed to it by their delegates to allow resumption of oil exploration in their area. The Ogoni Congress also called on sons and daughters of the area to unit to ensure that the move to revive the economic life of the people is achieved.
The Congress Of Ogoni People, COP, said this in a six-point Resolution it adopted, at the Peace and Freedom centre, Bori, Ogoni, signed by Prof. Don Baridam, Arch Bishop Ignatius Kattey, Barrister Tom Orage. Reading the Six-Points resolution, Prof. Don Baridam, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, noted that the Congress of the Ogoni People attended by over 10,000 Ogoni from all communities have been duly briefed by their delegates on the outcome of their meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
However the coalition said this in a statement signed by Georgina Tenalo, founding President of the Federation of Ogoni Women Association (FOWA); Fegalo Nsuke, President of MOSOP; Evangelist Barine Caroline Nagbo; Barinaadaa Wugale, Executive Director of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, South Africa; Michael Keania Karikpo, Country Manager of Natural Justice and others. The coalition demanded the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders executed by the Nigerian state in 1995, as a condition for the resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland.
The President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, who read the position of the coalition, emphasized that the exoneration of the Ogoni leaders is a necessary step towards correcting the historical injustices perpetrated against the Ogoni people. Nsuke asserted that the Nigerian government’s response to the Ogoni people’s non-violent agitation was marked by violence, leading to atrocities such as mass arrests, unjust detention, and the execution of Saro-Wiwa and his comrades. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exhibit the same courage and determination that led to the end of the oil subsidy and Forex subsidy in addressing the demands of the Ogoni people.
He said “We are witnesses to the uncommon courage and grit that it took to end the oil subsidy and Forex subsidy. We urge President Tinubu to exhibit a similar trait in dealing with this fundamental miscarriage of justice and abominable abuse of power by the Abacha Junta at the behest of Shell.” Nsuke demanded the establishment of a Peace and Reconciliation Panel to investigate the deaths of the Ogoni Four, which would bring healing and closure to their families, expressing concerns over the lack of inclusivity in the current oil resumption process. He regretted that women and youths were not represented in the delegation that visited President Tinubu, calling for a halt to the consultation process and the reconstitution of the facilitation group to reflect the diversity of the Ogoni community. He said “We have no doubt in our minds that President Tinubu will work to heal the wounds inflicted on Ogoniland by a brutal dictatorship in cahoots with Shell. We also demand that the facilitation group be reconstituted to ensure it reflects the diversity of the Ogoni community and to ensure fairness, equity and justice. Within this context, we demand that the consultation facilitation group should include representatives of women, representatives of Ogoni youths, a representative nominated by the families of the “Ogoni nine”and a representative MOSOP and a representative of Ogoni council of Churches.”
The congress appreciated the federal government and President Tinubu for granting their delegates the opportunity to dialogue and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for his steadfast leadership and commitment to the dialogue process, as well as the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, for his support. They noted that the meeting has rekindled their confidence in the federal government, adding that the signing into law the establishment of Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni by the president is welcomed. It read: “We acknowledge with gratitude the prompt actions taken by the government in response to the confidence building measures requests presented by our delegation, as a precursor to the dialogue, particularly: The signing into law of the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni, a landmark achievement that will contribute to educational and environmental advancement. The fast-tracking of the completion of the critical road project from Eleme junction to Onne junction , which will enhance connectivity and economic development.
“The implementation of affirmative action in the employment of Ogoni sons and daughters in key federal institutions, ensuring greater inclusion and representation. The intervention in infrastructural development through the inclusion of key Ogoni projects in the current national budget as well as interventions by the NNPCL, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing our developmental needs.” Congress of Ogoni People fully supports the ongoing dialogue process between the Ogoni people and the FG which has begun earnestly with the Ogoni-wide consultations, calling for support from Ogonis to ensure the ongoing consultations and dialogues are successful. It read “we believe that continued engagement and constructive discussions will lead to lasting solutions that will benefit our people and future generations. We call on all Ogoni sons and daughters, regardless of political, ethnic, or ideological differences, to unite in support of this dialogue process. This is a defining moment for Ogoni land, and our collective effort is necessary to achieve meaningful progress.”
