A group of opinion leaders and stakeholders in Ogoniland, Rivers State, under the aegis of Ogoni Ethnic Nationality, has expressed displeasure over what it described as the clandestine activities of one Peter Meedee and his collaborators, over their renewed plans for the resumption of oil production in the area against the wish of the people.
The group, which described the move as dubious and ill-conceived, said in a statement issued by Batombari Ledogho, its National Coordinator, that “the manner some political leaders in the area have carried on in their quest to return Shell to Ogoni for the commencement of oil drilling and related activities calls for concern, considering the sensitive nature of that undertaking, and the resolute position of the masses against such return at the moment.”
The group disclosed that Ogoni people believe that the politicians are getting it wrong particularly now that attention is on the anticipated clean-up exercise which has been flagged off by government, even though not much has been heard from the Federal Government since after the widely publicised event.
“The people view the steps taken by Mr. Meedee and co to dialogue with Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) as being selfish and deceptive, as they continue to launder the move by the Nigerian company, which is a subsidiary of SPDC that was responsible for the untold woes and anguish of the people in the cause of oil exploitation in the area.
“Such moves should be checked as it is designed to again mortgage the interest of Ogoni to a company that won’t better the lot of the people but add to the perennial suffering and poverty in the area.”
The group also said it is aware that the politicians are apparently acting the All Progressives Congress (APC) script of trying to cause crisis in Ogoni through this very controversial issue, describing the action as “dirty politics, unpatriotic and driven by greed and selfishness.”
“It is shameful and disappointing that even the so-called leaders who have lost relevance and value in Ogoni will rather than accept the reality of time, continue to engage in activities that would destroy and mortgage the future of the emerging generation and growing population of the people of Ogoni.
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