The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) wishes to express its views on the recent admission of two Nigerian nationalities, the Biafra Independence Movement / Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (BIM-MASSOB) and the Yoruba Liberation Command (YOLICOM) into the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples’ Organization, UNPO.
The Ogoni People welcome the admission of the two groups into the UNPO, however, we want to express our concerns regarding some misrepresentations contained in item 1 of the Recommendation Report on BIM-MASSOB presented before the presidency meeting of March 2020 held in Washington DC.
We note that:
1. Whereas the report represented Biafra as comprising of the entire Eastern part of Nigeria, the Ogoni people are a distinct ethnic nationality within Nigeria and not annexed to any other ethnic group or region.
2. That contrary to the claims of the BIM-MASSOB, the Ogoni people are not members of or affiliates of the BIM-MASSOB.
3. That the Ogoni people do not intend to be members or be affiliated to BIM-MASSOB.
4. That the Ogoni people have been politically and economically marginalized by other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
5 That we have registered our displeasure over the marginalization of the Ogoni people in Nigeria by protesting our inclusion in the former Eastern Nigeria.
6 That in protest against our inclusion in the former Eastern Nigeria, we agitated for the creation of the present day Rivers State which we hoped could advance our cause for freedom as a distinct ethnic nationality in Nigeria.
7. That further to our continual discrimination and marginalization in Nigeria, we joined the UNPO in 1992 to advance our quest for self determination.
8. That the Ogoni people remain committed and determined to pursue their cause as a distinct ethnic nationality as member of the UNPO.
Signed
Fegalo Nsuke
President, MOSOP
April 4, 2020
