The groups insisted that for the ongoing plan to resume oil production in Ogoni to succeed, it must be driven by MOSOP, the grassroot movement which led the protests that ousted Shell from Ogoni in 1993.
More than 30 civil society groups on Monday embarked on a mass peaceful protest at Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoniland in Rivers State over what they called, the Nigerian government’s decision to resume oil exploration in the region.
The protest led by the youth wing of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), attended by the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), the Federation of Ogoni Women's Associations (FOWA), the Ogoni Living Martyrs, the Ogoni Peace and Unity Forum and among others demanded for justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni eight, who were executed in 1995 for their advocacy on environmental stewardship and human rights.
The groups insisted that for the ongoing plan to resume oil production in Ogoni to succeed, it must be driven by MOSOP, the grassroot movement which led the protests that ousted Shell from Ogoni in 1993.
The protesters, who marched through the streets of Bori, armed with placards with different inscriptions such as "Clear Ken Saro Wiwa Name now," "No to forceful oil resumption," "We want justice for Ogoni 9," "Ribadu and Mitee leave Ogoni oil alone," "Stop the Ogoni genocide," and "No exoneration, no oil resumption in Ogoniland." and among others, stated that the involvement of MOSOP must be considered or nothing would be carried out in the land.
Addressing the protesters, leader of the protest and President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke, emphasised that the organisation's input is crucial for any oil exploration activities to commence in Ogoni land, adding that "There cannot be oil resumption in any part of Ogoni without inputs from MOSOP leadership. We will not accept any decision that is imposed on us without our input. We will resist any attempt to marginalise us or to ignore our rights. MOSOP started this struggle, and we were the first people to demand the return of oil exploration in Ogoni, not the political class. We will not be silenced or ignored in the decision-making process. Any attempt to silence us will be resisted lawfully, nonviolently until we win."
The MOSOP leader called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately halt the process initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and to initiate a more transparent process that would accommodate the views of the Ogoni people.
Speaking in the same vein, the President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Barinuazor Emmanuel, also reiterated the group's demands, which include the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa, rather than a pardon, as he was denied a fair hearing by General Sani Abacha, insisting that "Ken Saro-Wiwa was not guilty of any crime. He was a hero who fought for the rights of the Ogoni people, and his name must be cleared. We demand the granting of operational licenses to indigenous Ogoni companies to drill oil, unbundling of OML11, and providing compensation to the Ogoni people.
"We are also calling for a panel of inquiry into the death of the Ogoni 4, who were killed at Giokoo, at the hands of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists. We want to know the truth about what happened to our brothers. We want justice to be served, and we want those responsible to be held accountable. We will not accept any decision that is imposed on us without our input. We will resist any attempt to marginalise us or to ignore our rights. Ogoni youths want oil resumption in Ogoniland, but the federal government must engage in roundtable discussions with the Ogoni people.
"We are not against development. We are against exploitation and marginalisation. We want to be part of the decision-making process, and we want our rights to be respected. We are appealing to the national security adviser to call the Ogoni political class to order, they may sabotage the president's genuine intentions. We are not asking for too much. We want the federal government to recognise our rights as Ogoni people and to involve us in the decision-making process regarding oil exploration in our land."
The President of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), however, urged former MOSOP president, Ledum Mitee, to choose between supporting the federal government or the Ogoni people if he wishes to lead the discussion on oil resumption, warning that "You cannot serve two masters. You must choose which side you are. If you want to lead the discussion, you must be on the side of the Ogoni people."