Oil Exploration Resumption: Stop Inciting Ogonis Against FG, Group Tells Ex–Rep

A group, the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), has called on a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emma Deeyah, to stop inciting the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality against the federal government following their resolve to allow the resumption of oil exploration activities in the area.

The group stated that it was wrong for Deeyah to engage in such an act when the Ogoni people are concluding all reconciliatory and peace moves with the federal government.

COOP leader, Chief Gani Topba, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said President Bola Tinubu has consistently demonstrated his resolve and readiness to birth a new dawn in the Ogoni struggle.

Topba alleged that Deeyah, who is also president of KAGOTE, an elite socio-cultural organisation in Ogoniland, was being used by enemies of the Ogoni ethnic nationality to confuse Ogonis against the federal government.

The statement reads in part: “We have seen and read the press statement issued by Mr Emma Nwika Deeyah, and we are disturbed by the inciting content of that very unnecessary statement and his attempt to indirectly dare the federal government and the common Ogoni people on their collective resolve to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland.

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“Mr. Deeyah must stop inciting innocent Ogonis against the federal government of Nigeria, especially at this period when Ogoni is almost concluding all reconciliatory and peace moves with the Federal Government of Nigeria and our president, Bola Tinubu, has consistently demonstrated his resolve and readiness to bring a new dawn in the Ogoni struggle.

The group described the minister of works, Engr. Dave Umahi is a man of impeccable character who will never compromise his integrity when delivering the president’s mandate.

Recall that Hon. Deeyah had, in a statement issued on June 5, 2025, accused Umahi, who is also the immediate-past governor of Ebonyi State, of misleading Tinubu to commission some sections of the East-West roads that were yet to be completed.

Deeyah’s statement reads in part: “We are to state here that as of the evening of Sunday, 1st June 2025, work on only one side of the dual carriageway is ongoing. The concrete pavement has not covered the entire length of the road. Four (4) overhead bridges are at various stages of piling works. Not one has been completed.

“We believe that the honourable minister of works misled Mr President into commissioning a road still under construction. We hereby condemn this act in totality.

“It is surprising that a man who served twice as an elected governor, also won election to the Senate, would be so deceitful as to lie with a public infrastructure that all eyes can see, even the blind can feel.”