Mkpoikana Udoma 02 September 2015, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, says it has uncovered a plot by “internal and external politicians and their cronies” to politicise the planned Ogoni environmental remediation and restoration process to advance some parochial political and economic agenda capable of thwarting the success of the exercise.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, President of MOSOP, Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, warned those involved to steer clear of the implementation arrangements as any attempt at undermining the process would be viewed as affront against the collective interest of the Ogoni people and will be decisively resisted.
Pyagbara also threatened to expose those whom he described as ‘external collaborators’ who are providing resources including their platforms for the devious agenda.
“We insist that the environmental degradation of Ogoniland, which has compromised our general wellbeing, is not a political issue, and dragging the fast-tracking actions into the murky waters of politics demonstrates inexcusable callousness that should be condemned by all especially lovers of safe and clean environment.
“We have come a long way, and we therefore urge all Ogonis to come together irrespective of interest as we cannot afford to falter at this time of seeming genuine interest of government to redress the environmental wrongs against the Ogoni people. We therefore urge all Ogoni people to heed our advice as we would resist all attempts to frustrate efforts at ensuring environmental justice for our people.”
“The condition in local Ogoni communities where the people reap deaths and face crushing livelihood questions should bother us all. It is in the realisation of this that we would have no choice than to sustain our mandate of organising the Ogoni people for the movement from the Egypt of environmental injustice to the Canaan of environmental security. Those who may think otherwise, no doubt, are entitled to their opinions but must be mindful of the consequences of over-reaching their bounds,” he said.
In the same vein, the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, COTRA, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring the full implementation of the UNEP report in accordance with the recommendations contained in the report.