The Ogoni nation has concluded arrangements to commemorate the 19th year of the hanging of the Ogoni 9. This came as it formally declared that it was in dispute with Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell, warning those jostling for Ogoni oil concessions to stay away from Ogoniland or be faced with the wrath of the people.
The decision to these effects, among many others were reached at a recent General Congress of the Ogoni people held at the Peace and Freedom Centre in Bori, River State.
The General Congress was to receive reports and review the state of Ogoni nation and the various campaigns being led by the Ogoni people in Nigeria.
Attended by over 5,000 participants which included traditional rulers, MOSOP leadership and representatives of its constituent organizations, farmers, traders, professionals, politicians, youths and women, the Congress received reports from the MOSOP President and reviewed recent developments affecting Ogoniland.
The Congress also deliberated extensively on critical issues of national importance such as the state of UNEP Report Implementation, the Political Justice Campaign, Ogoni Oil Assets, Bori State Creation, Voter Education and participation in the United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.
At the end of deliberations, participants approved, among other things, the two-day programme of activities for the 19th Commemoration of the hanging of the Ogoni Nine and called on all Ogoni sons and daughters including supporters of the Ogoni struggle to turn out en-masse for the two-day event to honour the sacrifices of the heroes of the Ogoni nation.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and jointly signed by signed by Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, President, MOSOP and Fortune Okwah Chujor (JP), Deputy-President, MOSOP, noted that the Congress also welcomed the renewed process of engagement with the Ogoni people on the implementation of the Report on the Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland by the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with the five-point resolution that was reached with the Ogoni people on August 8, 2014.
According to the communiqué, “Congress welcomes the establishment of the Multi-stakeholder Consultative Committee on the Environmental Restoration of Ogoniland and the nomination of six Ogoni persons into the 15-member committee.
“It urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to speedily establish the Ogoni Environmental Restoration Authority, as contained in the 5-point resolution that was reached at the meeting of 8th August, 2014.
“Congress congratulated the six Ogoni sons that had responded to the political representation campaign of the Ogoni people by purchasing the nomination and expression of interest forms for the Office of the Governor of Rivers State.
“Congress reiterates its position that Ogoni people cannot wait until 2031 before their dreams of adequate representation will be achieved in Rivers State nay Nigeria
“Congress further mandated MOSOP and other support groups in Ogoni to intensify the campaign for adequate political representation of the Ogoni People by reaching out to all groups both locally and nationally to support the quest for Ogoni political representation in the capacity of Governor of Rivers State
“Congress appealed to all ethnic groups in Rivers State to support the Ogoni quest for governorship of Rivers State in order to promote political equality, equity, fairness and justice for the Ogoni People and across the state at large.
“Congress further called on Ogoni people and the supporters of the Ogoni struggle to come out en-masse to fully participate in the forthcoming Permanent Voter Registration Card Collection Exercise between the 7th -9th November 2014. The Congress also called on all those who have not done their registration earlier to ensure that their registration is done.
“Congress reiterated the position of the Ogoni People as expressed on Ogoni Day 2014 that Ogoni Oil Concessions cannot be put on sale to any third party investor without the free, prior and informed consent of the Ogoni People as required by international human rights law. Congress therefore directs that the attempts to put Ogoni oil concessions on sale be stopped forthwith until proper discussion had been entered with the Ogoni People
“Congress declared that Shell Oil and the Ogoni People are in dispute and warn all those jostling to take over the Ogoni Oil concessions to stay away from Ogoniland or be visited by the wrath of the Ogoni People.
“Congress decried the reported crisis in the MOSOP-USA leadership. The Congress therefore condemned in the strongest terms the purported unconstitutional suspension of the MOSOP-USA President by some few members of the MOSOP-USA Executive Council.
