The Ogoni Oil Producing Youth Forum (OOPCYF), has warned oil companies against negotiating the resumption of oil exploration in the area with persons who do not have the mandate of the Ogonis.
President of the body, Mr Barituka Loanyie, who gave this warning in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt recently, said the body was aware of the underhand moves by some people he described as “commercial activists” to negotiate with oil companies for oil exploration in Ogoniland.
He advised oil companies interested in prospecting oil in Ogoni to consult with the right leadership and stakeholders of the oil producing communities in the area.
Loanyie noted that, “In spite of our earlier warnings, certain greedy elements in Ogoni have continued to negotiate with oil companies for resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni.
“We reiterate that these desperate businessmen and commercial activists neither represent the interest of the oil producing communities and Ogoni people at large nor have their mandate to speak on their behalf”.
He clarified that the Ogoni youth body was not against the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni but only frowned at the underhand dealings by unauthorised persons.
“For the umpteenth time, OOPCYF is never against resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni, but insists that any company pursuing such interest must be ready to consult and dialogue with the genuine leadership and stakeholders of the host communities and Ogoni at large.”
He added that, “we sympathise with any oil company that deals with these dubious characters as whatever dealings they have with them will be an exercise in futility”.
The Tide reports that huge oil reserves in Ogoni have remained untapped since 1994 when key miner, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), abandoned its vast production assets over some unresolved differences, including massive oil pollution, with host communities.

By: Tonye Nria-Dappa