Mkpoikana Udoma 17 August 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Ogoni, under the aegis of Ogoni Conscience and Development Network, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve and reconstitute the board and governing council for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, inaugurated for the clean up of Ogoniland.
The group in an open letter to the President, titled, “Stop Ogoni clean up from ethnic hijack and strangers”, criticised the appointment of Mr. Wale Edun and Mrs. Amina Mohammed, as the chair persons of the BOT and the governing council, respectively.
The letter signed by Chairman of the group, Mr. Ledum Gbaranee, and Secretary Mr. Giftson Batam, maintained that the duo knew little about the Ogoni situation, whereas there were competent Ogoni people or those from other parts of the Niger Delta who could have fitted into the appointment.
The group alleged that “the appointment of non-Ogonis to head the BOT and governing council of the cleanup” was a ploy by a certain former governor “to hijack the clean up process”, warning that failure to review the composition of the board would result to nationwide protest.
“The Niger Delta region does not only boast of beautiful sea shell from our sea shore, the Niger Delta region is rich enough with professionals that can handle these positions of chairman of the board and the Governing Council of the UNEP Report Implementation in Ogoni land.
“The Ogoni people will not hesitate to go on protest should the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari fail to review its position on this matter.
“May we state that this development is not only a betrayal and most humiliating one but an indication that the whole arrangement is nothing but politically motivated”, the group stated in the letter.
