By VICTORIA OJUGBANA

The National Union of Ogoni Students International United States of America (USA) (NOUS INTL, USA) has called for a referendum on the status of Ogoni people of Rivers State in Nigeria.

The group, in a statement, jointly singed by the President (NOUS INTL) USA, Pius B. Nwinee, General Secretary (NOUS INTL) USA, Sampson B. Npimnee, Coordinator (CDHRAC INTL) USA, Cornelius J.S Dumerene, and Secretary General (CDHRAC INTL) USA, Toate Ganago, called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to divorce Shell from the NNPC/Shell Joint Venture and bequeath Shell’s shares/dividends to Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and Ogoni people.

NOUS INTL, USA then urged the Federal Government to conduct “an optional referendum in Ogoni to determine whether Ogoni will remain in Nigeria as a special autonomy territory or a nation due to ethnic genocide and ethnic displacement.”

NOUS INTL, USA noted this in the statement entitled: “Exoneration Of Ken Saro-Wiwa And Eight Ogoni Activists, Not A Pre-Condition For Dialogue In Ogoni. We Urge FG To Conduct A Referendum,” and dated November 1, 2021.

It said that the attention of the “National Union of Ogoni Students International (NUOS INTL USA), and Center for Democracy, Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (CDHRAC) USA, formerly known as OLM, have been drawn to the increasing political, economic, environmental instability and relentless cultism in Ogoni and her enclaves, incited and the recent running stomach visit to Aso Rock by some self-serving politicians, elders and chiefs.

“While we respect and honour our chiefs, elders and politicians, we, on behalf of MOSOP and Ogoni people at no time mandated or empowered any chief, elder or politician to collect $5000 and accepted a trip to London, or hold any behind closed doors discussion or negotiation for pardon or clemency for Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists, as such, we distance ourselves from such indignity and betrayal,” the group said.

They added that Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists were not criminals, but humble citizens and activists, who they said fought fearlessly for justice and fairness for themselves and their communities.

The group added that due to the alleged brutal clamp down on Ogonis, “using state-sanctioned and non-state- sanctioned instruments to kill, raped, tortured and hung Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists unlawfully, which included, but not limited to the killing of four Ogoni illustrious sons, Ogoni is still till this day, not aware of their killers nor burial, and we deserve an answer.”

It was added in the statement that NUOS INTL USA and Ogoni people in the past have called on the Nigerian government to exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists, saying that they have made their position clear in alignment with Ogoni customary law, the Nigerian local, state, national and international laws, and that they had been waiting, and will accept nothing less but exoneration.

We also want to use this medium to remind the FG of Nigeria and the Royal Dutch Shell that our attention has also been drawn to the legal muscles between the Royal Dutch Shell and the FG of Nigeria playing out in the court systems.

“On the contrary, Shell was declared persona non grata by Ken Saro -Wiwa, MOSOP and Ogoni people in Ogoni traditional headquarters and public town square, as such, we are putting both FG and Shell on notice that we shall not accept any attempt and attempted conspiracy that turn Ogoni public town square decision into private behind closed doors anywhere.

“We, therefore, use this vehicle to alert Governor Nyesom Wike to disable any purported plot to negotiate oil resumption with Ogoni.

“No amount of judicial negotiation whether from High, Appeal or Supreme Court decision will ever bring Shell or any Shell’s pseudo partners into Ogoni, but Ogoni Court of Public Opinion pioneered by MOSOP and MOSOP’s affiliates or Unit and Ogoni people,” the group said. (Daily Independent)

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