Royal fathers in the Ogoni ethnic nationality of Rivers State have appealed to the Federal Government to include them in the ongoing discussions to resume oil exploration in their area.

The monarchs, who hail from oil-producing communities in Ogoni, said that though they were not against beginning the oil business in their domain, they should be integrated into the process.

The monarchs under the auspices of Paramount Rulers of Ogoni Oil and Gas Bearing Host Communities (PROOGBHC) spoke in Ogale Town, Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

The Paramount Ruler of Ogale Eleme, His Royal Highness, King Godwin Bebe-Ukpabi, Oneh En Nchia X, who read the resolution signed by 23 monarchs in the area, called the Federal Government to begin the process of engaging with the traditional rulers in the communities.

Ukpabi hailed the Renewed Hope Agenda and commitment of the Federal Republic Givernment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the formation of Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) to take charge of the proposed resumption of oil and gas exploration in Ogoniland.

Ukpabi noted that the chiefs were not against the functions of ODC, but that it was time the government engaged with the oil-bearing communities directly.

He explained that out of the 118 communities in Ogoni, only 18 were oil-bearing, insisting that the chiefs, traditional rulers, and leaders of the oil-producing communities should be allowed to discuss with the authorities.

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He 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 ongoing discussions on the implementation of the blueprint, couched in the wisdom of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee recommendation with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Paramount Rulers of the oil-bearing host communities should be involved and carried along in the scheme of things.

“We, therefore, most respectfully request an audience with 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.”

In his remarks, Prof Samuel Nwiideeduh passed a vote of confidence in 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 in Ogoniland. It was chaotic. We want all of those issues to be handled.”

(The Nation)