Ahead of the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, has said it would hold town hall meetings across the four local government areas of the ethnic nationality.
The committee, which is chaired by former vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Don Baridam, was a creation of the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and selected Ogoni leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu had during the meeting appointed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to facilitate the oil resumption talks with the Ogoni stakeholders, just as he asked the delegation to get the input of their people and feed him back.
As a result, the Ogoni leaders held a congress at the Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, traditional headquarters of Ogoniland, on Saturday, to inform the people of the outcome of their meeting with Tinubu.
Addressing the stakeholders, co-chairman of the committee and retired Anglican Arch-Bishop, Most Rev. Ignatius Kattey, said the committee will also get down to communities to sensitise Ogonis on what was discussed during the meeting with Tinubu.
However, a resolution was reached at the end of the congress and was signed by the committee chairman, Baridam, co-chairman, Kattey and secretary, Tom Orage.
The resolution reads, “We acknowledge with gratitude the prompt actions taken by the government in response to the confidence building measures requests presented by our delegation, as a precursor to the dialogue.
“The Congress of Ogoni People fully supports the ongoing dialogue process between the Ogoni people and the Federal Government which has begun earnestly with the Ogoni-wide consultations.
“We believe that continued engagement and constructive discussions will lead to lasting solutions that will benefit our people and future generations. We acknowledge the efforts of the facilitators appointed to coordinate this process and express our confidence in their ability to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and transparency in the consultation and dialogue process.”
The resolution called on Ogoni sons and daughters, regardless of political, ethnic, or ideological differences, to unite in support of the dialogue process.
“The Congress of Ogoni People remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice, development, and inclusivity. We stand in solidarity with the government in this dialogue process and urge all Ogoni people to embrace unity and cooperation for the greater good of our land,” the resolution reads.
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