Fresh Crisis Looms In Ogoni …MOSOP Alerts FG On Splinter Group’s Excesses

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), has
called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, end the economic
and social exclusion of Ogoni through rapid development and job creation in the
area.

A statement jointly signed by the  Chairman, MOSOP Provisional Council, Prof Ben
Naanen and its Secretary, Dr Meshack Kananwi, and made available to The Tide,
said some youths in the area had become vulnerable to the antics of
mischief-makers as a result of joblessness, poverty and  inability to go to school.

The statement reads in part, “ it is a fact of history that
anti-state activities and  movements such
as the one that Goodluck Diigbo is trying to create, feed on social and
economic discontent. Let the Nigerian state not allow such a tendency to spread
in Ogoni as a result of neglect”.

The group, which expressed dismay over the purported
declaration of the Ogoni Autonomy Day”, dissociated itself from it.

It explained that, according to the Ogoni Bill of Rights
(OBR), the aspiration of the Ogonis was adequate representation in all the
institutions in the Nigerian state and the protection of their social,
economic, political and environmental rights by the Nigerian government ,
noting that Ogonis could not be aspiring for sovereignty, and at the same time,
asking for adequate representation.

“It will be recalled that Bori, the headquarters of the
Ogoni people, has been put under tension since July 31, 2012 by groups of young
men armed with automatic and other dangerous weapons. These young men are
connected to Mr Diigbo. They attacked the Peace and Freedom Centre (MOSOP
Complex) in Bori, causing considerable destruction while the staff of the
centre suffered various degrees of injury. Mr Diigbo had earlier sent text
messages that offices in Bori should be shut in observance of the day”, the
statement explained.

Calling on government to take lawful measurers to check
Goodluck Diigbo’s anti-state activities and protect lives and property in the
area from these cult boys, MOSOP noted that the armed youths were from Diigbo’s
community which is close to Bori, adding “that this explains why it was easy
for them to operate”.

Meanwhile, in consideration of the fact that other parts of
the Niger Delta also suffer oil-related pollution, the Congress of the Ogoni
People (COP), has resolved to accept federal government’s proposed Hydrocarbon
Pollution Restoration Programmes (HYPREP).

The congress, which was held in Bori on August 4th, agreed
that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  recommendations,  irrespective of the HYPREP’s intervention in
other areas, should be fully and faithfully implemented.

It also agreed that the $1billion recommended by UNEP as
start-up fund for Ogoni clean up for the first five years should be spent on
Ogoni alone.

According to the statement made available to The Tide by the
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and signed by Prof Ben
Naanen and Bishop Solomon Gberegbara, as
a means of ameliorating the dire poverty and joblessness in the area,
priority should be given to the Ogonis in terms of job and business
opportunities.

It also stated that the UNEP report should be implemented in
collaboration with an internationally recognised agency that would exercise
oversight and ensure quality assurance responsibility like UNEP.

While stressing that Ogoni should be regularly consulted on
the activities of HYPREP, especially in terms of clean up in the area, it noted
that there should be an intensive public health programme in Ogoniland,
including cancer screening and treatment undertaken by competent international
agencies.

The Ogoni leaders, however, expressed concern over the delay
in the implementation of  the UNEP report
by the Federal Government despite the urgency of the report.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had said
that it was going to set up a programme with a wider scope to cover other areas
experiencing  hydrocarbon pollution. This
is in contrast to an Ogoni Environment Restoration Agency which is specific to
Ogoni as  recommended by UNEP.

Vivian-Peace Nwinaene