Ogonis Laud Amaechi Over UNEP Report

Elected sons of Ogoni have commended Governor Chibuike Amaechi for his efforts and role in ensuring that the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on oil pollution in Ogoniland was successful.

The group came out with this stand after a meeting of all the elected sons of the kingdom in the four local government areas, comprising, Eleme,Tai,Khana and Gokana.

Spokesman of the group,Senator Magnus Ngei Abe noted that when the report was going on, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt.Hon Chibuike Amaechi practically carried the issue of the Ogoni oil pollution study on his head and provided all the necessary logistic for the UNEP to work with.

According to him, the governor bought vehicles and provided security for UNEP.

The governor also went further to visit Ooni several times to plead with the people to allow UNEP carry out the study’ he said

Abe expressed gratitude to the governor and said they would come up with a position on the UNEP report after  wide consultations with the entire Ogoni people. “We shall not make our position known until we have consulted with our people”, he said

They also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for reconsidering the UNEP report and the steps taken so far by appointing a committee.

They regretted that no person from Ogoni is represented in the committee that was set up by the federal government and  pleaded for a representation in the committee.   .

“We have reached out to President to reconsider our request to allow one of our persons to be included  in the  committee.” He warned that it should not be a report that should gather dust.

Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr George Feyii (right) receiving a plaque from Dr Samuel Amaechi, during a courtesy visit to his office in Port Harcourt.