Mitee Berates FG For Denying Oil Communities’ Rights

Former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Barrister Ledum Mitee has berated the Federal Government for not according oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta their rights.
Mitee, who stated this in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, last Wednesday, noted that it was unfortunate that despite long years of neglect, people of the region were yet to benefit from the resources in their land.
He also said the poverty in the Niger Delta region was unprecedented and does not reflect the huge revenue derived from the crude oil gas rich area.
Mitee stated, “People from these areas feel that they should get something commensurate to their sacrifices for being the host to all the hazards associated with oil in this part of the world.
“They are not getting those benefits. We are not getting benefit. So, we must be able to be put in a situation where we get the benefit from those resources on our land.
“Anywhere in the world you can tell from a place what it is close to. Why should we at this stage having the host communities to be partners in the oil industry?”
The former MOSOP President also said it was sad that government has continued to focus on militant youths in its amnesty programme, noting that there a myriad of peaceful youths that should be catered for.
“You do not take amnesty in the manner as a stand-alone that targets only those you feel they could bear weapons. Whereas there are several other people who were also engaged someway in this, but somehow, whatever benefits are not reaching them.
“Such can become self-reinforcing because you get more people who are doing that. I am not advocating that you ignore such people. They have a special need to temper,” he said.

Dennis Naku