Follow Us on Google
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Scores of Ogoni people have called on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate halt to oil exploration in 17 communities where hundreds of lives were lost several years ago in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
They made the call during a peaceful demonstration in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state, at the weekend.
The protesters, with placards bearing different inscriptions like “Free Ogoni Land from Economic Slavery”, “No to Oil Resumption”, “NNPCL bring back our $300 million” and “No to Sahara Energy”, condemned the resumption of oil activities in the affected communities without proper negotiations.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Executive Director, Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), Douglas Fabeke, highlighted seven issues of great concern.
Fabeke stated: “We have seven key issues we want to address, which concern our observations at the continued struggle of Ogoni communities. We expected that some of these issues we are raising here must have been addressed before now by federal government.”
According to him, several letters had been written to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other relevant government agencies concerning environmental injustice.
He declared: “Number one issue is, we are raising concerns regarding illegal oil resumption in the 17 Ogoni communities in Tai Local Government Area that were unjustly destroyed and burnt down with over 300 people killed in 1993 to 1998.
“We urged the Federal Government to take immediate actions to halt oil resumption in these communities as environment and people living in these areas are yet to be restored. Such operations pose significant health and safety risk of the community members.
According to him, a large number of people from the affected areas are refugees in different African countries like Benin Republic and Cameroun, while those in Nigeria are still homeless.
The group noted that Sahara Energy and some oil companies have moved down to the devastated communities to resume exploration without addressing the injustice meted out to natives.
It raised the alarm that with the resumption of oil exploration in the place, crisis is imminent and the federal government should, as a matter of urgency, forestall a breakdown of law and order.
Fabeke continued: “I have written to Mr. President to find out if he is aware of the operation that is going on in these areas because as of now, many people have been killed and crisis has taken place. And we don’t want any more crisis in Ogoniland.
“So, we are sending this message to Mr. President to give a command that activities in those communities should be stopped and let’s go into negotiations to see how people living in those places can be restored.
Also, the group called on federal government to take direct control of OML-II and engage the host communities in meaningful dialogue through an appropriate channel.
“Federal government should avoid political dialogue without result. Ogoni communities are yet to hear from Federal government.”
The OLI further rejected and declared Sahara Energy a non grata entity in Ogoni and demanded an immediate stop to any activity in Ogoniland.
“We welcome negotiations with NNPCL and other government agencies. But, this particular company, Sahara Energy, is rejected and declared persona non grata. We reject it totally”, the group stressed.
The group hinted that, if federal government fails to address these lingering issues, Ogoni people would escalate their grievance to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, through protest.
Also, the group demands accountability for the $300 million compensation, being fund budgeted for the development and welfare of Ogoni people, alleging the money might have been misappropriated by certain politicians.
Fabeke maintained: “I want to say it here that I was part of the committee that was set up for this $300 million. I was invited by the NNPCL and I gave them the list and all the Ogoni communities that were involved.
“But, when the money was briefed, up till today, I have not been briefed. The organization (OLI) has not been briefed. The communities have not been briefed about this money.”
The group lamented that after several decades struggle for environmental justice, Ogoniland is still impoverished.
