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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Niger Delta Coalition Vision (NDCV) has condemned the recent statement attributed to the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), calling for the removal of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku.
The statement, signed on behalf of the group by Alaowei Amawari, Victor Oleh, Donald Benneth, Lovina Charles, Simeipiri Kiki and Chike Chile, noted that if call was, indeed, made by MOSOP, it was regrettable, reckless, and capable of inciting ethnic tension in the Niger Delta region.
“We question why MOSOP would permit such a statement, as the issue could have been addressed through dialogue and constructive engagement.
“We are deeply concerned about individuals and groups in the region resorting to issuing provocative press commentaries that could cause division,” said Amawari, the spokesperson for NDCV.
The NDCV emphasised the shared goal of seeking justice in social, economic, environmental, and resource matters, highlighting that the entire Niger Delta region has demonstrated solidarity with the Ogoni cause despite being victims of environmental degradation and exploitation by the multinational oil companies.
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The statement also questioned MOSOP’s demand for Ogbuku’s removal, noting that no oil has been extracted from Ogoni land for about 30 years. It suggested that MOSOP should focus on resolving this issue rather than making provocative statements.
The NDCV cautioned MOSOP and other ethnic and socio-cultural organisations in the Niger Delta against making expressions that could inflame ethnic tensions and undermine the existing peace in the region.
The coalition urged the public and the government to disregard MOSOP’s call.
The NDCV commended the NDDC’s board and management for successfully hosting the Niger Delta stakeholders’ summit 2024, the first of its kind in the region, in Port Harcourt.
The NDCV is a group advocating for peace and development in the Niger Delta, and MOSOP has been a prominent voice in the region, advocating for the rights of the Ogoni people.
