Protests disrupts Ogoni oil exploration congress in Rivers

Protests disrupts Ogoni oil exploration congress in Rivers

The efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure oil resumption in Ogoni is under threat as protests disrupted a planned congress in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The planned Congress, apparently to sensitize the Ogoni people on the planned oil resumption, was organized by a group set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu to facilitate the process.

An eyewitness reported that the event was shut down by protestors carrying placards with various inscriptions some of which read: “Ledum Mitee and Ribadu, Leave Ogoni Alone”, “On Ogoni Development Authority We Stand”, “Exonerate Ken Saro-Wiwa”.

It will be recalled that a delegation of Ogoni people led by Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara had recently visited President Tinubu to negotiate a possible resumption of oil production in Ogoni.

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The President then mandated the National Security Adviser (NSA) to ensure that all Ogoni stakeholders were included in the dialogue process.

Prior to the protest on Saturday, the decision was greeted with mixed feelings as various interest groups expressed their displeasure in the way the oil resumption plan has been carried out.

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) had earlier expressed displeasure over exclusion from the process. MOSOP in a statement by its president, Fegalo Nsuke, accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu of bias and for turning its back against MOSOP after an earlier commitment to ensure that the group’s position was considered in the dialogue process.

Nsuke said the struggle of the Ogoni people had been championed by MOSOP, noting that the Ogoni people are very conscious of the sensitive situation and will rely on the position of MOSOP on the way to go.

Protests disrupts Ogoni oil exploration congress in Rivers