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PORT HARCOURT – The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called for the immediate suspension of all oil-related activities in Ogoniland, citing unresolved grievances affecting the people and persistent tensions across the region.
MOSOP’s position was contained in a communiqué issued after deliberations after it’s National Congress held at the Peace and Freedom Centre, Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday.
Reading the communiqué at the gathering, which brought together leaders of MOSOP, activists, youths and women representatives, traditional rulers, national stakeholders, and other key actors, Legbosi Piagbara,
former MOSOP President, said the position presented reflected the collective will of the people.
The document was jointly signed by MOSOP leaders and prominent Ogoni stakeholders, including Prof. Andah Wai Ogosu, Chief Prince Biira, Keeper Gbaranor, and Dr. Gbenemene Kpae.
MOSOP raised concerns that the Federal Government’s discussions with the Ogoni people have been narrowly focused on restarting oil production, with insufficient consideration of longstanding historical and structural grievances, maintaining that oil activities should not recommence until these core issues are fully addressed.
The communique said in part, “Congress welcomes the initiative of the Federal Government to engage with the Ogoni people and the Center of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee.
“While the Congress appreciated and reaffirmed our welcome of the opportunity of the dialogue, it regretted that the Federal Government effort so far appears to have been focused only on the issue of oil resumption, without any deliberate attempt at addressing the core issues involved in the Ogoni crisis including the issue of political inclusion.
“The Congress emphasizes resolving the Ogoni crisis, which also includes addressing the political inclusion, exclusion, and marginalization of the Ogoni people without which there cannot be oil resumption in the land.
“Congress, therefore, condemn and express sadness in the strongest terms the continued political exclusion of Ogoni people by a section of the Nigerian political class.”
MOSOP, further instructed that Ogoni people should henceforth channel political support exclusively to candidates of Ogoni origin, especially for strategic offices such as the governorship and key party leadership positions.
“Congress resolved and directed that Ogoni people will only give support and vote for political party that give prominence to the political inclusion of Ogoni people, by working towards the emergence of Ogoni sons as their governorship, party flag bearers.”
On security matters, MOSOP issued a strong warning to Fulani herders, demanding an immediate halt to killings of Ogoni people. It added that it would mobilize all available means to defend its communities, insisting that such attacks would not be tolerated.
“Congress calls on Fulani herders to stop the killing of any Ogoni person else Mosop will mobilize all that we have to mobilize to save the life of our people. Never again shall we allow any Ogoni son or daughter to be killed by any Fulani invader without a commensurate action.”
