The people of Ogoni have expressed anger with the president Jonathan lead administration over implementation of the recommendation contained in the United Nation report on the pollution of Ogoni land by the multi-national oil corporations especially Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) close to two years after the report was officially handed to the federal government for implementation.
Addressing the people of Ogoni during a prayer session organized by the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and prominent chiefs, elders and youths of Ogoni on Sunday, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the Senate expressed dismay over the delay of Federal government in implementing the UN report on Ogoni after two years.
The former minority leader in the Rivers State House of Assembly called on the federal government to initiate the process of the recommendation of the UN report as a matter of urgency in order to solve the problem of Ogoni People.
Senator Abe who was a former Commissioner for Information in Rivers State observed that the people of Ogoni are not happy with the President Goodluck lead administration on the issue assuring the people of Ogoni that he would do every thing humanly possible within his power to dialogue with the federal government on the execution of the recommendation of the UN report.
Earlier in his speech Prof. Ben Nanem the leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni people (MOSOP) recalled how the Ogoni people have suffered greatly in hardship due to the pollution of the immediate environment caused by the multi-national companies especially Shell stressing that the entire people of Ogoni are not happy on the delay of the implementation of the report. .
Professor Nanem who is also a lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, stressed that “when it is apparent that where people have suffered injustice they should be given a sense of belonging in order not to allow them seek negative alternative or be pushed to the wall.
Mr. Marvin Yobani who spoke on behalf of the youths, decried the damages caused by oil spillage to Ogoni environment which has polluted the area stressing that Ogoni has no portable water, due to the pollution of the area and urged the federal government to implement the report as quickly as possible.
Other sons of Ogoni who spoke at the occasion including King N.G.K. Gininwa, the chairman Rivers State council of traditional ruler among others expressed anger over the non-implementation of the report and blamed the federal government for not following due process in giving the report urgency it required.###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
