Traditional rulers of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State, have called on the Federal Government to include them in the ongoing discussions and dialogues on the planned resumption of oil exploration in their area.

The royal fathers, who are mostly from oil producing communities in Ogoniland, said they were not against the move to resume oil business in their domain, but should be made to take part fully in the process.

The monarchs under the auspices of Paramount Rulers of Ogoni Oil and Gas Bearing Host Communities disclosed this during a press conference yesterday at Ogale community in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the press conference, paramount ruler of Ogale Eleme, King Godwin Ukpabi, who read the resolution signed by 23 other monarchs in the area, urged the Federal Government to begin process of engaging with the traditional rulers in the communities.

Ukpabi applauded the Renewed Hope Agenda and commitment of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu on the formation of Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC), to man the proposed resumption of Oil and Gas exploitation and exploration in Ogoniland.

The traditional ruler noted that the chiefs are not against the functions of ODC, but that it was the right time for the government to also engage with the oil bearing communities directly.

He stated that Ogoni has 118 communities, but that out of the said number that only 18 are oil bearing, saying that it is time for Chiefs, traditional rulers and leaders of the oil bearing communities to discuss with the authorities.

Ukpabi said: “Note further that these Oil Bearing Communities have borne the heaviest brunt of oil exploitation and exploration in Ogoniland with the attendant bouts of oil spills, destruction of biodiversity, affecting Agricultural outputs and driving into extinction many species of her aquatic life and obvious environmental challenges, preventable poverty, diseases and deaths.

“We urge you, therefore, that at this stage of on going discussions on the implementation of the blue print couched out the wisdom of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee recommendation with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Paramount Rulers of the Oil bearing Host communities be involved and carried along in the scheme of things.

“We, therefore, most respectfully request an audience of the Paramount Rulers of the Ogoni Oil Bearing Host Communities with your esteemed Office to enable a constructive dialogue and legal consultation on the modalities for implementation with a view to averting potential disputes, promoting transparency and securing Host Communities cooperation.”

Also speaking, Prof Samuel Nwiideeduh, passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of PROOGBHC, noting that the essence of the call was to avoid issues that led to the developments in Ogoni.

He said: “We pass a vote of confidence on our leader, His Royal Highness, saying that everything he has said is our stand.

“Why we are making this call now is to avoid a repeat of what happened many years ago ago in Ogoniland. It was chaotic. We want all of those issues to be handled.”

(LEADERSHIP)