Ogoniland Gives Condition For Oil Production

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People in the United States of America (MOSOP-USA), has told the federal government that the creation of Bori State is the pre-condition for the resumption of oil exploration activities in Ogoniland in Rivers State.

It described the ongoing clean-up of polluted Ogoni environment by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) as ‘window dressing’.

MOSOP-USA, spoke in a communique made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the judicial murder of the famous Ogoni 9.

The communique, which was signed Elder DineBari Augustine Kpuinen, Keesiiup Kpooni and Pastor TomBari Samuel Nweemuu, the organisation’s president, secretary and public relations officer, respectively, said the proposed Bori State will comprise the peoples of Andoni, Ogoni, Nkoro, and Opobo, who are in the Rivers South-East senatorial district of Rivers State.

The communique reads in part: “After much consultations and deliberations, the summit made the following solemn declarations: MOSOP, USA declared and affirmed that there will be no oil resumption in Ogoni land by Shell Multinational Oil Company or any other contractual pseudo-company.

“That, the 1993 declaration against the company remains in place, which is contingent upon an acceptable, and transparent Treaty between the Ogoni people, MOSOP USA, Nigeria government, and Shell Multinational Oil Company.

“As a precondition for Oil resumption in Ogoni land, MOSOP USA declared and affirmed that there must be the creation of a BORI state comprising the peoples of Andoni, Ogoni, Nkoro, and Opobo. Ogoni people are concerned about their natural resources that have been siphoned away by non-Ogonis for so long. We demand that we should be treated as equals not as second-class citizens by Nigeria.

“With very clear evidence that trumped-up charges against Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders formed the basis of their being murdered in 1995, MOSOP USA declared and affirmed that our heroes should be exonerated from murder charges. November 10 should be upheld as a public Environmental Day in Nigeria and due compensation should be paid to the families of the Ogoni 13 (the Ogoni nine and four).

MOSOP-USA stated that the federal government must consult with it and other acceptable stakeholders in Ogoniland, to seek a consortium of expatriates in environmental remediation for the clean-up of Ogoni.

The communique said: „MOSOP USA declares that the clean-up by The Hydrocarbon Restoration Program (HYPREP) in Ogoni land is window dressing. The Nigerian government must consult with MOSOP USA and other acceptable stakeholders to seek a consortium of expatriates in environmental remediation for the clean-up of Ogoni.

„Ogoni people demand a blueprint for such clean-up as well for us to ascertain the validity and appraisal of their work,“ he said.