The Kingdom Coordinators Forum of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has warned against the resumption of oil mining activities in Ogoniland. MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators and Chapter Leaders said resuming oil business in Ogoni without addressing the fundamental issues surrounding the exit of Shell from the area will undermine prevailing peace in Ogoni.

Chairman of the Forum, Frank Jonah, said the issue of Ogoni oil is not just about an acceptable oil firm.

“Ogoni oil has come with so much pain and the people have high expectations regarding the issues of state creation, the standards of business as well the extent to which any oil firm will go to help address the social problems facing the people,” he said in a statement issued at the end of an emergency meeting held on Tuesday.

“Giving that we in Ogoni have lost an entire generation of leaders because of a legitimate protest against irresponsible business practices, an attempt to impose any oil firm on Ogoni will surely be met with stiff resistance and this could lead to another era of state repression in Ogoniland,” the statement added.

The group urged the Nigerian Government “to first address the fundamental demands of the Ogoni people, including the right to recognition and self determination through the creation of a Bori State, the clean-up of Ogoniland and the payment of compensation to Ogoni people whose means of livelihood have been seriously damaged by years of environmental degradation by Shell’s presence in the area.”

It also urged the government to be fair in its handling of the Ogoni problem. “Nigeria,” according to the statement, “must show her commitment to justice and fairness, especially in the Ogoni issue. We have lost some of our best men in the November 10, 1995 hangings, we have been extensively abused under the various Nigerian military regimes, our environment has been completely destroyed, we have no electricity, water and many more basic amenities despite being a major contributor to the Nigerian economy and so the government will be most insensitive to ignore all these issues and to be talking about any form of resuming oil activities in Ogoni.”

The MOSOP Coordinators further urged the government to show some sense of humanity by addressing the issues of self determination for the Ogoni people before contemplating any form of negotiations regarding the Ogoni oil. They noted that failing to address these issues will mean that government has chosen to kill and repress the people to forcefully exploit their oil resources as there must be very strong resistance against such moves.

•Photo shows oil-polluted water, one of the sad effects of oil mining activities in Ogoniland.

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