Mkpoikana Udoma 18 July 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – As part of emergency measures for the UNEP clean up of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has called on the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme, HYPREP, to provide potable water to the people of Ogoni.
The Ogoni socio-cultural body also said HYPREP must commenced the training of youths and women in Ogoni to build their capacity towards the cleanup of polluted sites in Ogoniland.
This was made known in a communiqué read by the President of MOSOP, Mr Legborsi Pyagbara, after an Ogoni Special Congress meeting in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni people in Rivers State.
“The congress urges HYPREP to make public its work programme to enable the community and other stake holders to follow-up on the implementation of the UNEP report
” The congress calls on HYPREP to immediately embark on the implementation of emergency measures particularly as it relates to provision of water, health evaluation of the people and the training of the youth and women.”
The MOSOP leader also warned that plans by persons or organizations to begin oil exploration and production in Ogoniland will be resisted by the people.
He called on the management of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to jettison any plans to begin oil production in Ogoni area.
“Congress reiterates that Ogoni people will not allow resumption of oil production in the area without broad-based discussion with the masses of Ogoni people and called on the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company or any other company to stop forthwith the clandestine attempt to re-enter the area through the back door.”
On the restructuring of the country, the MOSOP leader stressed that Ogoni was one of the first groups to raise concerns about the governance structure of the Nigeria federation.
He said the Congress has called on the Nigeria government to embark on a major restructuring of Nigerian federalism underlined by local autonomy for sub-national entities to develop at their own space.
The Congress further expresses its appreciation to the State Governor, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, for extending the Amnesty Programme to repentant cultists in the Ogoni area.
“The congress stressed that to consolidate and stabilize the peace in the area, the Rivers State Government should initiate as soon as possible, a process for the rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant cults.
“Congress also calls on the Federal and State Governments to increase security facilities in the area including personnel and equipment for intelligence gathering and immediate response to crime.”
