By: Felix Ikpotor
Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has raised the alarm over what it called moves by some persons to sell-off parts of Ogoni territory to strangers.
President of MOSOP, Professor Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu who stated this in a statement he issued in Port Harcourt, said there are attempts by some persons to sell-off parts of Ban-Goi territory in Tai local council to the Igbos.
MOSOP urged the leadership of the community, Tai council chairman and patriotic Ogonis to wade in to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the area.
He said the reported plan to sell-off Ogoni territory has sparked concerns about the potential for anarchy and humanitarian crisis, stressing that Ogoni people have suffered significantly from environmental degradation and economic exploitation, saying any further loss of land could exacerbate the issues.
He said: “MOSOP sees this territorial disputes as a tremendous threat to Ogoni’s cultural heritage and identity.
“This, if not addressed urgently, will cause serious humanitarian crises, displacement, economic instability and loss of livelihoods. I strongly believe that this can be prevented through collaborative action”.
Wai-Ogosu insisted on the need for urgent intervention to protect the rights and interests of the Ogoni people.
The MOSOP president further advised the Tai council chairman, Matthew Dike to immediately order the stoppage of surveys and sales of lands in Ban-Goi to strangers and to convoke a meeting of all stakeholders in Tai to find amicable solution to the problem, fearing that if nothing is done immediately, it may result to crisis that could engulf the entire territory.
