By Eric Moore
MOVEMENT for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), has unanimously demanded the carving out of Ogoni blocs in Oil Mining Lease (OML 11) from the existing concession agreement between Sahara Energy and WAGL.
This was contained in a joint statement signed by the three contending factions of MOSOP and read on their behalf by King Samuel Nnee, Gbenemene Tai Kingdom and Convener of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers at Bori the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland at the weekend, as the Ogonis all over the world commemorated the 33rd edition of Ogoni Day.
MOSOP has also demanded that an indigenous firm that is committed to the development of Ogoniland should be considered as regards to oil exploration in the area.
Those who signed the statement were Fegalo Nsuke, Prince Nuyete Biira and Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu who are all laying claim to the presidency of MOSOP.
The statement also called for the clearing of the names of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogonis who where brutality murdered by the General Sani Abacha military junta in 1993, of any wrongdoing and also confer posthumous national honours on all the 13 Ogoni martyrs.
Nnee, while reading the statement also regretted that since Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), was chased from Ogoniland in 1993 as a result of their actions in the area, the people have been denied the benefit of the over 500,000 barrels per day oil trapped under in the Ogoni fields.
He expressed the resolve of the Ogoni people to support oil resumption in the area through a special purpose vehicle which would drive development in Ogoniland.
He said: “MOSOP demands the unbundling, removal or carve-out of the Ogoni fields from the existing Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara and WAGL for the OML 11 concession and the assigning of the Ogoni bloc to an indigenous operator that is acceptable to all parties and willing to make concessions and commit a fair proportion of its earnings for Ogoni development through the immediate establishment of an Ogoni Foundation or Trust.
“The details of the operationalization to ensure transparency and effectiveness will be made known in a couple of weeks.
“The commencement of a judicial review to clear the name of Ogoni
Great Martyr Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa and eight of his fellow
martyrs and granting posthumous national honour to the foremost
martyrs of the Ogoni struggle, also know as the Ogoni 13″, who were executed by the Nigerian State on November 10,1995, during the regime of late General Sani Abacha.”
The monarch said the idea of Ogoni control of its resources resonates with the goals of their founding fathers and are enforceable within the context of extant laws of the Nigerian federation, calling for cooperation and support from all Ogoni natives to achieve the goals.
MOSOP also demanded the evacuation, resettlement and rehabilitation of the Ogoni refugees in Benin Republic and other countries who fled from Nigeria in the early and mid 1990s during the invasion of Ogoni communities by the Abachi-led military junta.
Also, the body frowned at the pace of work being done by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), and called on the agency to fastrack the evacuation of underground oil and provide potable drinking water.
MOSOP also called for the establishment of a mechanism within HYPREP to compensate for livelihood losses due to
environmental pollution.
Other demands presented by MOSOP also included fastracking the Presidential Assent to the bill for an Act establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, Saakpenwa, in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The body thanked President Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for their love towards the Ogoni people.
Earlier in his address, chairman of the occasion, Derek Mene, called for unity and love among Ogoni people to move the area forward.
He also urged the youths to support their leaders and avoid acts capable of causing disaffection in Ogoniland.