By: Felix Ikpotor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) said it has uncovered a plot by key oil industry operators in Nigeria to kill its president, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara.
This plot is the body said is being hatched through the sponsorship of local actors to engage in a campaign of calumny against the leadership of MOSOP, cause crises in Ogoni and provide an environment to kill the MOSOP president by replicating the Ken Saro-Wiwa treatment.
A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Feghalo Nsukke accused Belema Oil of the plot.
The statement reads: “We want to alert the world of the activities of Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Micheal Limited, all Nigerian companies, who has engaged local actors, sponsoring groups and individuals solely to cause crises in Ogoni to justify a crackdown on activists and treat the present leadership of MOSOP in the same way it dealt with a generation of Ogoni leaders in the 90s which eventually led to the 1995 hangings”.
MOSOP also rejected any plan to resume oil production in Ogoniland until it is properly negotiated.
The statement said “ We further denounce the activities of Belema Oil and Robo Micheal in Ogoniland.
We emphasize that the Ogoni problem is not just about oil but an unjust system that has marginalized our people, discriminated against us and is driving us into extinction. These, we must note are far beyond the capacity of any oil local industry operator to resolve”.
MOSOP insisted that the three parties to the conflict including Shell, the Nigerian government and the Ogoni people must dialogue to resolve these issues.
It further called on the Ogoni people to be mindful of what it termed “devilish plots by the Nigerian oil industry being orchestrated by Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Micheal Limited” and urge them not to be lured and used by the oil industry against the people.
