By: Felix Ikpotor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, has said the incident that led to the burning of a bus belonging to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme, HYPREP, was as a result of the refusal of government to listen to the Ogoni people on issues concerning the clean up.
Mr. Feghalo Nsuke who is laying claim to the presidency of the body stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
He said although the incident regarding was a tragedy, but said the Federal Government and HYPREP must realize that in order for the cleanup exercise to be successful, they must engage the Ogoni people from the beginning stages to the end.
Also the movement said “they must select a contractor who will not be bias and whounderstand the UNEP requirements in full and the total needs of the Ogoni people. We must design a comprehensive plan and program that will include: oil spill cleanup, infrastructure building, installation of potable water piping, economic development, healthcare, education, etc”.
The statement continued that:”rather than address these fundamental needs, the government has been desperate to award contracts ahead of the 2019 elections. It is unfortunate that the selection of contractors has been more like political patronages, a situation where some of those selected as contractors do not even know the road leading to Ogoni”.
Nsuke alleged that, “the conduct of HYPREP in the implementation of the cleanup process has completely alienated the people and focused on private and monetary benefits rather than Ogoni interests. For instance, over one billion Naira had been spent on communication, yet the local people do not know what HYPREP is doing in Ogoni. Wouldn’t it have been better to invest such huge amount on water provision for the people?”
He regretted that the government failed to heed the advice of MOSOP on the need for integrity and diligence in the implementation process.
“The government/HYPREP thinks the Ogoni people do not have access to the UNEP report or are simply ignorant about their needs and what should be done about the UNEP recommendations. MOSOP would recommend that the report should be implemented in a way that benefits the Ogoni people and not used for political patronage”. He said.
The body insisted that Ogoni people must be involved with every stage including the rights to select contractors acceptable to them and in line with their local content laws which requires robust engagement to come up with a comprehensive plan on development and cleaning the pollution.
While condemning the incidence, MOSOP said although the conflict was avoidable, but said t it is also a clear indication that the Ogoni people are dissatisfied with the government over the cleanup implementation and if the issues are not properly addressed by involving the people in every phase, their could be stronger resistance from the communities.
PHSpectator recalls that some youths of Gokana clashed with officials of HYPREP and some contractors engaged for the clean up exercise which led to the burning of the bus which was used to convey journalists to the site.
