Clean-up Project: Ogoni’s Struggle Not In Vain – HYPREP

Chairman of the board of trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), Dr Mike Nwielaghi, has described the ongoing clean-up of polluted Ogoni environment as one of the greatest achievements of the struggle by the people of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State.

Nwielaghi made the assertion yesterday in his goodwill message during the 31st Ogoni Day celebration, which was held in Bori, headquarters of Khana local government area of the state.

He called on the people to criticise aspects of the ongoing clean-up exercise and not to malign it, urging them to abhor hate, acrimony and petty jealousy.

The HYPREP chairman said: “Today, in an attempt to review the level of progress in the struggle, can we pause to ask ourselves, how far we have gone, and where exactly we are in the struggle? And what contributions have been made individually and collectively in achieving set goals?

“It must be re-stated that this struggle was a peaceful one, and that was why we received acceptance and recognition by both local and the international community. This indeed is the first high points even though it was later to be fraught with unnecessary disturbances by supposed external enemies.

“From the foregoing, I wholeheartedly call on all Ogoni sons and daughters to continue to remain peaceful in our comments and expectations from the products of the struggle. We must maintain peaceful coexistence and create love among ourselves and our neighbours, for this is our strength and pride as a people.

“On our part as those appointed by the Federal government of Nigeria to superintend some of the gains of the struggle, as elites and leaders, we will continue to do our best for the overall good of Ogoni people. I assure you all of our support and commitment to making Ogoni great.

“For instance, the ongoing Ogoni clean up exercise of the APC-led federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the greatest achievements of the Ogoni struggle and I want to use this medium to call on our people to work with government to achieve set goals of the clean-up program. We must criticise aspects of the project constructively and not to malign nor bad-mouth it. We must abhor hate, acrimony, and petty jealousy,” he said.