…Says Ogoni youths not against oil resumption
By: Felix Ikpotor
Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel has stated that he remains the duly elected and only recognized president of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People, NYCOP.
This follows an election conducted few days ago by some Ogoni youths who elected Comrade Raymond Nwibani as the new NYCOP president.
Reacting to the election of a new NYCOP executives, Emmanuel insisted that the purported election which produced Raymond Nwibani as president is alien to the NYCOP constitution, adding that his tenure would expire in 2027 haven been elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2023 for a second tenure.
He alleged that those sponsoring the factional EXCO led by Raymond Nwibani are only interested in Ogoni oil and to cause division among youths of the area.
“That election that brought in Raymond Nwibani is null and void. I was first elected in 2021 as president of NYCOP and I was reelected in 2023 and my tenure will expire in December 2027.
“NYCOP has its constitution and Article 8 tells you how election is being done which is by delegates. Raymond Nwibani is not an official of NYCOP not to talk of being a chapter member and NYCOP elections is by delegates from each kingdom. Also NYCOP calendar states that your tenure starts from 1st January to 31st December. The people that conducted the so-called election are not members of NYCOP so we don’t know where they derived their power from.
“What we have seen here is that thesame merchants that have caused crisis in MOSOP and balkanised all the successes in Ogoni and the only one that’s still breathing is NYCOP and they want to cause faction because their sole aim is just to be in control of HYPREP and also be incharge of oil resumption in Ogoniland,” he said.
He averred that usually, elections of NYCOP is done at the MOSOP Peace and Freedom Centre, Bori but because this one is illegal that’s why it was taken to a police station in Eleme.
He appealed to Ogoni youths to ignore the purported election and to remain calm.
“I will appeal to Ogoni youths to remain calm because this is the highest form of intimidation and provocation. We know people that are behind these and very soon we will mention their names. They should not allow what happened in the days if Ken Saro-Wiwa in1993 and 1994 that has kept us where we are to repeat itself. Ogoni youths should be calm, there is no cause for alarm as we are in office and will remain in office till 2027 when we shall conduct election and handover to people that will takeover from us,” he said.
Reacting to the claim that the Customary Court of Appeal judgment which nullified the Prince Biira led MOSOP affected his leadership, he insisted that NYCOP is an independent body and not dependent on who emerges president of MOSOP.
“NYCOP is an independent organisation in Ogoni, it’s only the Steering Committee of MOSOP that has power to dissolve affiliates, those leaders that signed the 2021 agreement at the MOSOP Peace and Freedom Centre Bori were not members of the MOSOP Steering Committee, the Customary Court in Saakpenwa gave an injunction and they went to the Customary Court of Appeal for a review. Did the judgement ask them to go and conduct NYCOP election? I was elected by NYCOP officials, handed over to by my predecessor, Dr. Young Nkpah and reelected by NYCOP officials, so MOSOP leadership crisis does not affect NYCOP leadership. Let me tell you the truth, this people’s action is just to take Ogoni oil. We have ten affiliates in Ogoni so would you say anytime there is crisis in MOSOP, it would affect all the affiliates?” He queried.
He said NYCOP under his leadership is not interested in any fight but to save the souls of Ogoni youths who are affected by the thirty three years of non-economic activities in Ogoniland.
Commenting on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Comrade Emmanuel said Ogoni youths are not against that but insisted all Ogonis must sit at a table to decide which company will come to Ogoni.
“We are open for oil resumption and economic activities in Ogoni but every negotiation must be in an open palace where every Ogoni person will participate in the negotiation,” he said.
