The Joint Ogoni Youth and Stakeholders Council, has condemned a recent call for the sacking of the Minister for Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal and the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey by one Theophilus Alaye said to be speaking for the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide.
The body which is a conglomeration of youth leaders and critical stakeholders drawn from across the six Ogoni kingdoms, while condemning the call in a statement issued by its chairman, Comrade Felix Zor-ol, said the Ijaw Youth Council under Mr. Jonathan Lokpobiri’s leadership has maintained a cordial and productive working relationship with Ogoni youths and stakeholders.
The group said it does not recognise the Alaye led group of IYC.
The group acknowledged the right of other Niger Delta ethnic groups to demand for their rights or for environmental remediation but however, noted that the money earmarked for Ogoni cleanup is from Ogoni funds paid by the oil companies for the pollution in Ogoni in line with the Polluter Pay Principle.
”For the avoidance of doubt, while we are not opposed to the Ijaw people or any other Niger Delta ethnic nationality advocating for the remediation of their polluted environments, it is important to clearly state that the funds earmarked for the Ogoni cleanup are not allocations from the Federal Government. Rather, they are Ogoni funds, paid by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) responsible for the pollution of our land, strictly in line with the Polluter Pays Principle.
”These funds are exclusively meant for the restoration and remediation of the severely devastated Ogoniland, following decades of reckless oil and gas exploration. Consequently, these funds cannot and should not be diverted or applied to remediate Ijaw land or any other part of the Niger Delta, ” he said.
The group also commended the environment minister and HYPREP PC for the visible progress recorded some far in the ongoing Ogoni cleanup exercise.
”We wish to place on record our commendation of the HYPREP Project Coordinator for the visible progress and commendable delivery recorded so far on the Ogoni cleanup project. We also commend the Honourable Minister of Environment for providing the necessary policy direction and oversight that have contributed to the relative success of the project. The Ogoni people are pleased with the trajectory of the cleanup exercise and the performance of the project management team”.
In light of the foregoing, the Ogoni youths and stakeholders call on Mr. Theophilous Alaye to immediately withdraw “his misleading comments and refrain from making further statements capable of heating up the polity. We also urge him and others to always verify facts before speaking on sensitive issues that concern the Niger Delta and its diverse ethnic nationalities”.
The group said it remain committed to peace, equity, and constructive engagement in the Niger Delta and supports initiatives that genuinely advance environmental justice and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
