The elders forum of the Ogoni people have rejected the resumption of oil and gas activities in Ogoni land as a condition for the implementation of the UNEP report on the cleanup of Ogoni land
The elders including Ledum Mitee former president of the movement of the survival of Ogoni people (MOSOP) Senator Benneth Biraba, Dr. Desmond Nbete said this in a press release of the meeting between the Ogoni’s and minister of state for petroleum resources
The forum which rejected the condition said that the issue of resumption of oil and gas activities in Ogoniland was a sensitive one that requires a thorough and pains taking engagement process with a far broader stakeholder than the few handpicked persons currently engaged.
“We are further seriously concerned that two years after the much published flag-off ceremony for the cleanup of Ogoniland as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) by the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the minister of State for Petroleum Resource is now trying these expected commencement of the cleanup and remediation process to resumption of oil and gas activities in our land by his preferred company”.
The elders also said that the situation is an attempt to precipitate another round of crisis in Ogoniland to provide an excuse for the elimination of another level of the Ogoni leadership and endanger the fragile peace of the community.
