Following the delay and the non implementation of UNEP Report by the Federal Government, the Movement of the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has adopted August 4th every year to remember the environmental decay, environmental injustice and installmental killing of Ogoni people by the Federal Government.
The adoption comes as a result of a one day seminar organized by MOSOP at the peace and freedom centre, Bori on August 4th, 2014.
The one day event has its theme: “Ogoni, UNEP Report and the search for Environmental Justice”.
In an address delivered at the event, the MOSOP President, Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara stated that “every year since August 4th, 2011 thousands of Ogoni people and their supporter across the globe have always gathered to remember this important day, August 4 when the United Nations Environment programme released its report on the state of Ogoni environment which is a death sentence passed on the Ogoni”.
He stated that the environmental challenges of the Ogonis and the ongoing environmental terrorism being committed against the Ogoni people by a government with a slumbering conscience, and cares little about the survival of the people.
The environmentalist lamented the non implementation of the UNEP report by the Federal Government yet the same government is raising billions of naira in Abuja in the name of security while the environmental insecurity in Ogoniland continues to kill people on daily basis including the unborn generation.
MOSOP President maintained that Ogoniland and other part of Niger Delta are facing environmental terrorism that indeed intervention for the restoration of the degraded ecosystems and the provision of support for the victims.
Mr. Pyagbara lamented that, “today, no single recommendation in the UNEP Report has been implemented by the FG, while condemning the setting up of HYPREP contrary to what is in the report.
“Today Shell continue to deceive the world with its so called clean up of Right of Way yet the assessment remains its trade-mark white-wash” he said.
He reminded the people not to lose track of the struggle that started in 1990 and the sacrifice of the heroes, saying it is not yet late for President Goodluck Jonathan to take action and also declaration of emergency on the Ogoni environment.
Also speaking, the guest speaker, Prof. Lucky Akaruese of the University of Port Harcourt recalled the outcry of the Ogoni people on their environment that led to the UNEP Report.
He stated that environmental terrorism is worst than Boko Haram because a generation can be wipe out in Ogoni.
The University Don posited that the delay by the FG is too dangerous to the life of the people, while suspecting some sabotage on its delay; he suggested that its implementation will help other Niger Delta areas.
He asked: would the report be used for election campaign?
Highlight of the event was solidarity messages from other organizations in the Niger Delta and Ogoni sons and daughters with question and answer session. ###
Pius Dukor
