Sir Joe Korka-Waadah
By Maureen Dick
MOVEMENT for Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Canada, has said President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni, Rivers State, is not enough atonement for General Sani Abacha junta’s execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and would not make Ogoni people yield to resumption of oil production in their land.
President of MOSOP Canada, Joe Korka-Waadah, speaking from his Ontario, Canada base, noted that above all other considerations, the exoneration of the Ogoni 9 from perceived wrongdoing that informed their execution tops through most critical conditions for resuming oil and gas operations in Ogoniland.
Korka-Waadah, a political management expert, noted: “The coming of a Federal University of Environment and Technology to Ogoni is a welcome development. We commend Mr President for the will to act.
“But, it is not enough. It does not atone for the pains, does not heal the wounds inflicted on us from losing Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni sons of pride for fighting for the our common good.
“The whole world knows Saro-Wiwa was too refined, too peaceful, an activist to be killed on trumped up criminal charges. If government is sincere on gaining Ogoni confidence to resume oil and gas production, the first term of engagement is to exonerate and grant posthumous pardon to the Ogoni 9.
“The second expectation is for federal government to show commitment to meeting the Ogoni Bill of Rights. Then, all other considerations, including development benefits and appointments can be better appreciated to achieve mutual consent to resume oil business in our land.”
He added: “Ogoni people have seen it all. This gesture (federal Varsity) has undertone. Together with recent appointments of Ogonis into federal board, they are perks by government to enable prosecute the vehement desire for resumption of petroleum oil and gas production in Ogoni. Unfortunately, hanging to these only may not work.
“Any attempt to move the needle on oil drilling in Ogoni without adhering to the Ogoni Bill of Rights would lead to an international resistance. MOSOP Canada would not hesitate to resort swiftly to an international campaign to thwart forceful re-entry into Ogoniland for oil and gas operations.”