The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says it is considering blacklisting Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Michael Limited as possible operators for the Ogoni oil block.

The Movement, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Fegalo Nsuke said there was a profound threats to the peace of Ogoniland occasioned by activities of the two oil companies.

“MOSOP considers Robo Michael and Belema Oil’s utter disregard for the dignity and rights of the Ogoni people to free, prior and informed consent to constitute human rights abuses.”

It said: “We are further alarmed by these companies’ tendencies to constitute a security problem to the area through the sponsorship of rival groups whose activities are currently unsettling the peace of the area.”

MOSOP expressed concern that the companies have continued to disregard its call to stop funding local actors to divide the people against one another, thereby posing real threat to the peace and human rights situation in Ogoniland.

It said the Ogoni environment cannot support any form of oil production at this time and therefore, called on all oil companies interested in the Ogoni oil block especially Belema Oil Producing Limited and Robo Michael Limited “to stop sponsoring groups, heightening tension in the area and setting the people against one another.”

It urged the Federal Government to stand for human rights by stemming the activities of these oil companies “whose interests have turned Ogonis against one another and obviously could burst into a full-blown conflict with implications for the safety of lives and properties of local people.

“While we consider other legitimate means to compel a probe on Belema Oil and Robo Michael particularly their role in the sponsorship of individuals and other local actors, we urge the Federal Government to avert the impending and seemingly inevitable crises Belema Oil and Robo Michael intends to throw Ogoni into in their desperation for oil.”

The movement reiterated its position that Ogoniland cannot support any form of oil production at this time “given the level of environmental devastation caused by Shell’s poor business practices of over 30 years and the delays in the commencement of the clean-up programme which should help restore the land.”

“We also re-emphasise our stand on the way forward for this protracted conflict insisting that the government, Shell and the Ogoni people must be brought to a discussion table to address the conflict in Ogoniland,” MOSOP said.

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