– Warns of renewed crisis in Ogoni
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, and the Ogoni Liberation Initiative, OLI, have condemned recent remarks by Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, describing them as provocative and a threat to the fragile peace in Ogoniland.
Speaking on behalf of both groups, MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke said Ribadu’s comments, made during a question-and-answer session with Ogoni youths in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, disregard the pain and historical trauma endured by the Ogoni people in the struggle against environmental injustice and state repression.
Nsuke noted that the statements ran counter to resolutions adopted by the Ogoni Congress on November 30, 2024, and the Ogoni National Assembly on January 4, 2025, which categorically rejected any forceful resumption of oil production without addressing longstanding grievances.
He said, “To say the least, the NSA’s comments were unfortunate and had elements of provocation. He should have known about the sensitive nature of the issue of oil production in Ogoni and how seriously the Ogoni people take it.
“I think the National Security Adviser is getting the wrong advice on the true position of things in Ogoni. The issue of resuming oil production in Ogoni, being very sensitive, needs to be handled with deeper consultations to address the underlying problems first, before we proceed.”
He accused the NSA of speaking with “authoritarian detachment,” warning that the approach risks undoing five years of grassroots peacebuilding and community engagement undertaken by MOSOP to encourage dialogue.
“It is regrettable that the recent actions taken by the Office of the NSA are fast destroying the gains of earlier community sensitization done by MOSOP. The fear now is that we are fast being driven back to 1993 because the drivers are desperate and failing to listen.”
Drawing on the painful history of the Ogoni struggle, Nsuke reminded the federal government of the violent military repression of the 1990s and the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others.
“The Ogoni people have lost unquantifiable assets in human and material resources. By 1999, at least 30 Ogoni villages were destroyed and some 4,000 Ogonis had lost their lives in the struggle.
“When I heard the NSA’s comments, I was wondering if he was speaking of the oil in Adamawa or if he was actually speaking of the oil in my Ogoni country. We need to be a bit more realistic and not provoke people into the streets.”
According to Nsuke, the Ogoni struggle is not merely about oil but about justice, environmental remediation, and respect for human rights.
“The Ogoni issue is about justice and not just revenue generation for the Nigerian government. Ribadu forgot that the Ogoni environment is still polluted, with people struggling to have access to clean water.
“All these people, dead and alive, need justice. The government should not run away from these realities if we are to address the problem permanently.”
MOSOP and OLI reiterated their demand for structured negotiations and peaceful dialogue, warning that any attempt to forcefully resume oil extraction could lead to renewed unrest.
“We should not at all times deploy or display the force of state and cause deeper damage that will become too difficult to resolve. Let us consider a proper dialogue, especially in the Ogoni case, where we have all shown willingness to talk.”
