UNEP Reports: APC,MOSOP Laud  Buhari …As Group Faults FG’s Move

Member representing Asari-Toru Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Enemi George (middle), conferring with his Akuku-Toru Constituency I counterpart, Hon. Granville Wellington (left) and the member for Etche Constituency II, Hon. Tony Ejiogu, during a sitting in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Following the recent ap
proval and directive by the Federal Government to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for fulfilling his electioneering promises to the Ogoni people.
The party,  in a statement on Wednesday, said the move by the Federal Government was a confirmation of the party’s earlier position that President  Buhari means well for the Niger Delta as a whole and Ogoniland in particular.
According to the statement, “It further gives credence to the saying that a good friend is by far better than a bad brother.
‘’ For 6 years that President Goodluck Jonathan was in the saddle as President of Nigeria with full executive powers, he  ignored the UNEP Report for the cleaning of Ogoniland. The former nation’s leadership carried on as if Ogoniland was not part of the Niger Delta. But today, just 68 days into his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated that with strong will, love and honesty of purpose, nothing is impossible to achieve.’’
The statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone, said the move by the present administration shows that the modest contribution to the development of the Niger Delta so far had been championed by those outside of the region.
Finebone said the party was convinced that history will generously accord pride of place to President Buhari,  former governor  Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Magnus Abe “whose audacious decision to lead the state  into the APC has now brought succour to Ogoniland, just as it will bring to the entire Niger Delta.”
Also, the  President of MOSOP , Legborsi Degbara and the President of Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority, Dr. Goodluck Diibo, commended the Federal Government for its recent move to fast-tract the implementation of the UNEP reports and clean up the areas.
Degbara in a statement said the move by the federal government was commendable and goes to show that the Ogonis are being remembered in the present administration .
Dr. Diigbo also lauded the move but noted that the government’s  fast-track actions ignored the report’s technical demands.
According to him, “Even though the report remains disputed, many of EIAS measures investigated, and clarified in the report, are missing.
”Buhari may have a good intention, but, his expressed intentions might deepen old wounds. For instance, Buhari avoided specific mention of recommendations by UNEP, including Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority, Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland, A Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, among others, and even, $1billion, considered grossly inadequate for take-off, is now missing.”