On December 27, 2017, the secretariat of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) in Bori came under the control of the Nigerian Army. Robo Michael Limited, an Abuja-based company, in its desperation to force its way to resume oil mining operations in Ogoni had connived with some persons to lie about a meeting with MOSOP. More than that, the company had ordered that the MOSOP secretariat be forced open by soldiers, for the meeting with chiefs.

Robo Michael deceptively advertised the meeting to be between the company, the traditional rulers, and MOSOP. The company would further lie that the letter inviting RoboMicheal was signed by the deputy president of MOSOP, Chief (Dr) Fortune Okwa Chujor.

To the company, getting MOSOP involved was a smart way to deceive the Ogoni public and get massive turn-out. Little did the company know that the constitution of MOSOP requires that for there to be a congress or public gathering of the Ogoni people, the executives of MOSOP – the vice-presidents (kingdom coordinators) and the chapter leaders of the over 300 chapters of MOSOP in Ogoni communities – must be present.

It is on record that no member of the executive committee of MOSOP, vice presidents and chapter leaders attended the meeting. The big question here is: Is it possible for a meeting organised in collaboration with MOSOP not to have, at least, an executive of MOSOP in attendance, with kingdom coordinators and chapter leaders?

Robo Michael and its collaborators were smart and knew that its deception would not work without ‘MOSOP’ appearing somewhere in its design. They probably have been informed that the Ogoni Bill of Rights expressly gives the mandate of representation to the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People. And so, deceptively advertising its collaboration with MOSOP was a major strategy to get people to the meeting.

So at about 1pm same day, soldiers loaded in six trucks and two armored tanks swooped on the MOSOP secretariat and forced the entrance open, as hired buses conveyed chiefs for the meeting. Mrs Arobo Igirani of Robo Michael arrived at about 3.20pm with more soldiers in her convoy. In her speech, she was clear about her interest: she wants the Ogoni oil, for which Ken Saro-Wiwa, Barinem Kiobel John Kpuinen, Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Theophilus Orage, Samuel Orage, Baribor Bera, Nordu Eawo and some 4,000 others have been killed by the Nigerian government between 1993 and 1999.

Clearly, Arobo and her Robo Michael in their business prospection do not use their conscience and chose to come with two military tanks and over 100 soldiers to the meeting. What did she intend to achieve, you may ask. I have also been pondering about that; and the only answer I could get is that she wanted her deception to succeed. She knew she is not welcome and did not want an embarrassment.

To Robo Michael, military forces from Abuja is the way to go, they think the resistance of the Ogoni people since 1993 must be crushed with the army.

Robo Michael, on December 27, proved to all that she can be even more brutal than Shell. If tanks will be used for a supposed business meeting, then what would Robo Michael had deployed if its operations were disrupted in a dispute with a local community? Probably, fighter jets will swing to action, leaving all dead.

I call on the Ogoni people to continue to reject this deceptive Robo Michael, and its killer and inhuman tendencies. Let me also intimate you that the company has not got any licence to operate in Ogoniland. It’s all part of the company's deception. In fact, Robo Michael is not experienced in oil-mining at all; and had never prospected for oil any where before. And the company thinks that over a million Ogoni whose future had been destroyed by Shell’s racist business practices since 1958 can be her guinea pig.

It is not surprising that even Shell, whose standards we reject, consider Robo Michael unfit for oil-mining in Nigeria, and has refused to deal with the company.

What more should I tell you about RoboMicheal and its already failed expedition in Ogoniland.

But, I will leave you with few words: No matter how much money that will flow in from Abuja, Ogoni oil cannot be taken without the consent of the Ogoni people.

•Fegalo Nsuke, Publicity Secretary of MOSOP, wrote from Bori-Ogoni, Rivers State.

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