The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has kicked, saying it was disregarded in discussions that should lead to the resumption of oil in Ogoni.
The Movement said this is contrary to the directive President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave when the discussions were flagged off. Those who were in Abuja where the discussions were flagged off by President Tinubu however made it clear then that the point men were directed to go from community to community, not through any group, to the real people. Every political leader, activist, or influential person was required to attend the discussions right at their own localities. There were no middlemen.
Now, Fegalo Nsuke, factional president of MOSOP, and Fabeke Douglas, President of the newly noticed Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), said they have dissociated their groups from any discussions to resume oil operations in Ogoni area (OML-11), saying no person has been held liable for the death of over 4,000 Ogoni people. “You are also very much aware of the pains and trauma our children, old people, young men, women had to endure following state-sanctioned extreme torture, imprisonment, and even death which became a policy of the Nigerian Government.”
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MOSOP said the development they envisage presumes that full economic activities would have to be encouraged in the land, including the resumption of oil and gas extraction. “However, we recognize that our people, the masses of Ogoni, paid the sacrifices that made it possible for the Ogoni oil to be available for discussions today, in the first place.
“While we continue to advocate for the good and the best interest of the Ogoni people and insist that the struggles of the grassroots must benefit the grassroots and not just serve elitist intentions, we reiterate our dissociation from, and rejection of the current surreptitious approach which in utter disregard for the directive of Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, blatantly excluded MOSOP and other relevant stakeholders from the so-called dialogue process.”
MOSOP said it has been the speaking for the Ogoni including fighting for the Ogoni Bill of Rights and getting the Ogoni to accept a resolution. “We therefore expressly and strongly reject the current attempt to hijack and derail our peace process.”
MOSOP said they would maintain their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Ogoni problem and in this regard, will continue to pursue and seek collective grounds for stronger consensus. “Today, we are pleased to announce our collaboration with the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI).
MOSOP is today collaborating with the OLI to drive a new, stronger and better future for the Ogoni people.”
The coalition thus gave a long list of what must be done before oil resumption in Ogoni, apparently throwing fresh tackles to the discussions which the mandated group may appear to have achieved.
