Mkpoikana Udoma
04 January 2019, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Friday said that some oil firms with interest in the resumption of oil exploration in OML11, Ogoni oilfield, are responsible for the leadership tussle rocking the apex Ogoni group.
President of MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, said this while briefing newsmen on the 27th anniversary of Ogoni Day, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Although Pyagbara did not mention the said oil firms, the oil companies with a renewed interest in OML11 include Belemaoil Producing Limited, RoboMichael Limited, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC.
He explained that apart from the issue of oil resumption activities in Ogoniland, the commencement of Ogoni clean-up exercise was also a factor in the crises tearing the apex Ogoni group apart.
“Yes, it is true that some companies with an interest in Ogoni oil and resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland are behind the crisis in MOSOP.
“As for the issue of resumption of oil in Ogoniland that is why we came up with this year’s theme of Ogoni day as “resource extraction, indigenous participation, and protection of the environment: ensuring fairness and respect.”
“Our position is that before crude oil exploration resumes in Ogoniland, three cardinal conditions must be met in line with global best practices, as it is obtainable in other countries of the world where crude oil exploration is taking place.
“These conditions are community participation in the oil extractive sector, community benefit/equity sharing agreement with the operating companies, and environmental management plan for Ogoni communities; because oil and gas production compromises the air quality, water quality and soil integrity.
“Now these companies do not want to meet these conditions and instead they want me out so they can explore Ogoni oil. One of these companies, since November 2017 has spent a lot of money to lobby some Ogoni people, that is why you are seeing this tussle.”
On the issue of Ogoni clean-up, the MOSOP leader said it was unfortunate that some people are of the belief that the exercise is about making and sharing of money.
“It is unfortunate that some people are talking about Ogoni clean-up as harvest time.
“It should be a shame on the part of the Federal Government for failing to implement the UNEP Report, being a signatory to United Nations, it is also shameful that Nigerian government failed to protect the people of Ogoni from the excesses of oil multinationals.”
