By: Felix Ikpotor
The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has frowned at the visit by some Ogoni leaders to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wherein the request for resumption of oil mining activities was tabled before the president.
Ogoni leaders led by HM, Mene Samuel Nnee had visited President Tinubu Wednesday where they called for resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland as part of an Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project to fastrack development in the area.
In his remarks at the Villa, King Nnee commended President Tinubu for his numerous achievements within one year in office, highlighting the ongoing construction work on the Akpajo- Onne-Junction axis of the East-West Road.
“Your unspeakable dedication to service and empathy are the propelling forces behind your prompt response to our people’s yearnings which the past administrations have persistently promised and failed to meet,” he said.
According to the Paramount Ruler of Kpite Tai, previous administrations were unable to resolve the issues associated with the shutting down of oil production in Ogoniland.
He informed the President that the Ogoni people are prepared for the commencement of oil and gas production in Ogoniland with the potential unbundling of OML 11 – bearing an additional production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day and 120 million cubic feet of gas per day.
”This will contribute $5 billion per annum to Nigeria’s GDP on an asset that is currently owned 100 percent by the NNPCL.
“The people-driven vision of the Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project is the matter of the moment among our kith and kin. Our people’s hope is glowing with the expectation that the time to revitalize the economic nerves of our land is now.
“Ogoni people are gifted, peace-loving, and hospitable, and our children are making an impact across all sectors, as well as the oil industry, from where they are prepared to bring their expertise to bear for the good of our people and the entire country,” the monarch said.
But the Professor Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu led MOSOP condemned the visit, alleging that it was sponsored by oil companies to discuss re-entry into Ogoni oilfields.
MOSOP in a statement by its Secretary General, Nyiedha Nledi Nasikpo said Ogoni people have not at any time sat down to discuss the issue of oil resumption in Ogoniland, urging President Tinubu not to allow his office to be used by merchants of crisis to cause break down of law and order in the area.
The statement read: “The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) condemns the meeting with the President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of individuals sponsored by oil interests, and claiming to be leaders and representatives of Ogoni people sent to discuss the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni.
“MOSOP wishes to restate clearly that Ogoni people have at no point held a congress where the issue of oil exploration in Ogoni was deliberated. We would also like to make it clear that participants of said meeting who claimed and paraded themselves as leaders of MOSOP and its other affiliates are not known to any of the organs of MOSOP as recognized by Ogoni people. We also re-echo for the whole world to know that Shell and all oil companies remain persona non grata in Ogoniland until the demands of Ogoni people as enshrined in the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR) which was presented to the Nigerian Government in 1990 is acceded to by the Nigerian Government.
“MOSOP calls on the Nigerian President to not allow his office to be utilized by merchants of crisis to cause chaos in Ogoniland reminiscent of the Nigerian Government’s direct attacks and sponsored attacks on Ogoni communities between 1990 and 1999 which saw the near complete annihilation of our people in a bid to protect and advance the interests of oil companies and their evil collaborators at the expense of the Indigenous people of Ogoni.”
