The attention of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has been drawn to a report that completely misrepresent the position of the Ogoni people on critical issues including an alleged missing $300 Million paid to the Rivers State Government in an out-of-court settlement between the Rivers State Government and the NNPC, during the previous administration,over Shell’s stakes in OML 11.
MOSOP is also aware of publications calling for public protests against certain individuals over the afore-mentioned $300 Million payment. MOSOP consider these moves and accusation against Ogoni stakeholders a precursor to a crises of similar magnitude which led to the killing of some prominent Ogonis on May 21, 1994 and therefore wishes to state as follows:
1. MOSOP has not mandated anyone including one self acclaimed Dr. Fabeke Douglas, coordinator of an NGO named Ogoni Liberation Initiative to speak on its behalf. The printing of the MOSOP logo on caps and banners to be used by this group is therefore a deception intended to mislead the general public on the position of MOSOP over the matter. MOSOP does not have any links to the use of its logo by some miscreants who seek to deceive the general public with its insignia.
2. MOSOP states that the money in question emanated from an out of court settlement to which the Ogoni people were not parties. It sounds strange that people will seek cheap popularity over an issue that has been decided by the courts in a matter to which they were not parties.
3. MOSOP further wants the Ogoni public to note that all the actions of Fabeke Douglas are designed to orchestrate into forceful resumption of oil production in Ogoni without the consent of the Ogoni people and MOSOP – the leading organisation which protested Shell activities in Ogoni and have laid a set of demands which if implemented will lead to a peaceful resolution of all issues and the ultimate resumption of oil production in Ogoni in the interest of all parties including the Ogoni people, the Nigerian government and the oil companies and investors.
4. MOSOP will not hesitate to call out the Ogoni people against any nocturnal move to resume oil production in Ogoni against the wishes of our people or without an agreement on the conditions we have laid down in our demands for the operationalization of the Ogoni Development Authority.
5. MOSOP urges the general public to be wary of Fabeke Douglas whose intentions and actions are clearly designed to throw the Ogoni into a civil crisis.
7. MOSOP calls on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to clarify the public on the status of the $300 Million allegedly stolen under the previous administration and take legitimate actions against all those involved if any financial wrongdoing is uncovered.
8. MOSOP notes OML 11 straddles between Bonny to Andoni, Ndoki and Oyigbo in Rivers State and stretches to Asa and Ndoki in Abia state. The demand for accountability over the allegedly missing $300 Million is therefore not just an Ogoni affair and the Ogoni people should not be sacrificed or put at risk for some personal, political and pecuniary interests.
9. MOSOP reiterates that it is the responsibility of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to recover any missing funds from the coffers of the state and will urge the Ogoni people not to be deceived into “drinking paracetamol over another’s headache”.
10. MOSOP states categorically that the self acclaimed Dr. Fabeke Douglas, organiser of these protests which are clearly threats to public peace is an agent of the NNPC and only masquerading in his hypocritical confrontation of the NNPC.
11. MOSOP urges His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to be distracted by sponsored groups seeking personal and pecuniary gains and we call on His Excellency to remain focused on maintaining peace and development in the state.
12. Finally, MOSOP calls on the Ogoni people to remain peaceful and law abiding and to avoid being used to drive personal goals.
Signed:
Fegalo Nsuke
President, MOSOP
September 5, 2024.
Alex Akori,
Secretary-General,
MOSOP
September 5, 2024.
