…Says calls, premature
Mkpoikana Udoma
12 February 2019, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, has described as premature, the calls by some Ogoni groups on the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to begin negotiations for her return to Ogoniland.
Factional President of MOSOP, Mr Fegalo Nsuke, exclusively told our correspondent that it was fundamental to note that the Ogoni people were not opposed to discussions on oil, rather Ogoni wanted it to be properly negotiated with the demands of the Ogoni people given very high priority.
Nsuke said contemplating oil resumption in Ogoniland without first addressing the fundamental issues raised by the Ogoni people in the Ogoni Bill of Rights would amount to a deliberate design to kill the Ogoni people as the proponents of oil resumption knew that the entire Ogoni will rise against it.
Nsuke, who explained that MOSOP was the only group with the mandate to speak for the Ogoni ethnic nationality, noted that given the brutal and very painful experience of the Ogoni people, oil resumption at this time would be met with strong resistance.
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According to him, “Those calling on Shell to open negotiation for resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland should not be taken seriously, there are certain conditions that must be met before oil resumes in Ogoni.
“The people of Ogoni must benefits from Ogoni oil. We don’t want a situation where when oil is produced in Ogoniland, the proceeds are sent to the federation account while the Ogoni people get nothing.
“We cannot continue to suffer the brunt of oil exploitation and damaged environment but get nothing. We are willing to discuss on oil exploration but the people must benefit.”
The Ogoni leader stressed that the Federal government should first address certain issues affecting the Ogoni people.
These issues according to him are, “The full implementation of the cleanup programme, the decriminalization of the Ogoni nine hanged in 1995, respect for the political rights of the Ogoni people to self determination and the development of social infrastructure in Ogoniland to pave the way for industrial development of the area and employment especially for young people.”
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The MOSOP president said it was inhuman for the Federal Government to neglect the Ogoni people despite the huge contributions of Ogoni to the economic development of the country, adding that Nigeria’s interest for the Ogoni oil rather than the people was regrettable and unacceptable.
