Guardian

IRRESPECTIVE of the setting up of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP), the Ogoni remains concerned that the fundamental measures that are necessary for the effective implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme report are yet to be taken by the Federal Government.

Ogoni people, under the aegis of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), have urged the government to do what is right or risk Ogoni being forced to take its case to the international community, this time, for the non-implementation of the UNEP report, and for lack of action on the abysmal poverty in the area, which is not conducive to peace and social harmony.

The Chairman of MOSOP Provisional Council, Prof Ben Naanen, stated this at the Ogoni national day ceremony held at Bori yesterday. He noted that the level of poverty prevailing in Ogoni, as a result of the environmental pollution occasioned by activities of oil companies, is such that degrades human life.

To this end, he suggested that government must ensure that a special dispensation has to be established for the socio-economic development of Ogoni as recommended by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Fact Finding Mission to Nigeria, and by the UN Special Rapporteur on Nigeria in 1997.

He said sustainable development in Ogoni also requires the effective implementation of the UNEP report and the adoption of sound environmental governance, which has to be domesticated by the people.         Naanen whose reign ended yesterday following the election of a new MOSOP president, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, said in pursuit of its policy of dialogue and constructive engagement, MOSOP played a key role in the Ogoni delegation that met with President Goodluck Jonathan and his government in September 2012.

He explained that follow up meetings are expected in order to concretely address the economic, social and political issues raised in the conversation with the President, including the creation of Bori State.

To this end, he urged the new MOSOP leadership to move the people into the contemporary period, based on new thinking.

“MOSOP must change with the time by redefining its strategic objectives and modus operandi. Old slogans must give way to new realities. While protecting the human rights of Ogoni people, MOSOP as a social movement, must through advocacy construct strategic partnerships for development to improve the deplorable economic and social condition of the Ogoni people, based on the current development ideology, which centres on private enterprise.

On its part, the new MOSOP president, Pyagbara, said that rather than the piecemeal approach to the implementation of the UNEP report, it should be fully implemented.

He cautioned that should the government fail to yield to this demand, Ogoni people would be resorting to their traditional non-violent strategies to engage the government.

“Another serious issue that requires our collective condemnation is the recent attempt by Shell to enter into some Ogoni communities, particularly Bodo community which was not fully discussed with the people and led to reports of infliction of injuries on community members.

Committed to our resolve to see Shell out of our land, which had long received the blessings of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we reiterate our call that Shell remains persona-non-grata in Ogoniland” said Pyagbara.

He promised to initiate a reconciliation process to bring on board all Ogoni who may have felt aggrieved and estranged to come back into the MOSOP fold.